Thais in Qatar cautioned over Gulf state crisis

An alternative channel to transport goods from Thailand was shipment by sea to Doha Port, according to the Commerce Ministry director-general of International Trade Promotion Department, Malee Choklumlerd. 
Air transport from Thailand to Qatar using Qatar Airways had not been affected by the diplomatic row, she said. 
Among affected items were automobiles, air conditioners and refrigerators, which were mostly transported by land, she said, adding that the value of affected goods could not be verified.
Thailand’s trade with Qatar is mostly sent directly to the country with exports over the first four months of the year valued at US$102.17 million (Bt3.5 billion), according to the Commerce Ministry.
Trade with Qatar could be affected indirectly if diplomatic isolation caused Qatar’s economy to slow down. Serious |damage could be felt in the air transport, trade and energy sectors since the country is a major natural gas producer, the ministry’s director of Trade Policy and Strategy Bureau Pimchanok Vonkorpon said. 
Meanwhile, the Thai Embassy in Doha said Thai people in Qatar could go about their lives normally but should monitor the situation closely. 
“If any situation might affect the normal lives of Thai people in the country, the Embassy will inform them via Facebook and the application LINE.”
The embassy is available to help Thai nationals who contact it, the statement said. 
The ban on Qatari flights, imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies, took effect yesterday as efforts were made to resolve the biggest feud to trouble the Gulf Cooperative Council in its history, according to AFP.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar on Monday, accusing the Gulf state of supporting extremism.