Canada seeks public-private partnership deals here
Canada is keen on cooperating more closely with Thailand through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
“Desiring to increase trade and investment in Asia and Asean, Canada sees Thailand as a great partner for strengthening ties with the region. So Canada would like to play a bigger role in trading and investment in Thailand,” Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday.
After meeting with Canadian Ambassador Philip Calvert, she said Canada had shown strong interest in joining the PPP projects of the Thai government, focusing on infrastructure development.
Canada is also eyeing investment in various industries.
The PPP projects that have caught Canada’s attention include the renovations of airports in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen.
Canada would like to forge closer ties with the Thai government in supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
It sees potential in exporting its frozen pork to Thailand. It is calling on the government to approve import certification for its meat. However, Thailand needs to inspect shipments to ensure they are free of residues of salbutamol, a growth-enhancing drug, and meet sanitary standards.
Thailand has encouraged Canada to allow imports of boiled and processed chicken.
According to the ministry, Thailand is Canada’s largest trading partner among Asean countries. Last year saw two-trade reaching US$2.39 billion (Bt86 billion), of which exports from Thailand were $1.47 billion.
In the first half of this year, two-way trade was $1.13 billion, with exports from Thailand making up $685.93 million.
Canada is a major foreign investor in Thailand. From 2008-14, $317 million in initial capital was invested in 6,500 projects in industries such as chemicals and paper, electronics and electric appliances, steel and machinery, ceramics and mining, weaving and agro-industrial.
