Businesses from Hokkaido looking to boost trade via Thailand

At the Hokkaido Night meeting in Bangkok recently, Hokkaido Vice Governor Kenichiro Tada said that Japanese from Hokkaido look forward to strengthening cooperation in trade, investment and tourism with Thailand.
Many goods from the northern island show high marketing potential in Thailand, such as seafood, dairy products and snacks, while many Thais like to travel to the prefecture.
Thai Airways’ direct flight three days a week from Bangkok to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, will significantly bolster trade and tourism between the two countries. This is the first non-Japanese airline flying directly to Sapporo.
Kodama Toshihiro, executive director of the Hokkaido Governor’s Office of International Business and Economic Affairs, said trade between Thailand and Hokkaido should surge under the closer linkage in transportation as well as stronger commercial ties between Thailand and Japan.
Trade between Thailand and Hokkaido is worth about Y14.70 billion (Bt5.65 billion), of which Y11.73 billion is exports from Thailand to the island.
From 2009-10, Thai travellers to Hokkaido jumped by 40 per cent.
Toshihiro said many industries from Hokkaido are also expected to expand trading and investment in Thailand in the future.
Hokkaido products with export potential to the Kingdom are processed foods, seafood, snacks and sweets, and steel.
Mikiko Suma, chief director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) in Hokkaido, said some Hokkaido restaurants and Japanese schools are looking for an opportunity to open here.
Thailand has good infrastructure and many positive factors to attract investors from Hokkaido, she said.
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION