Kota Kinabalu: Thailand’s Department of International Trade (DITP) sees promising potential in creating a long-term win-win situation between Thailand and Sabah, where both can leverage on each other’s strengths.
DITP Malaysia Director Worawan Wanwil said Sabah’s proximity to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is advantageous, while Thailand, known for its advanced agriculture, could jump in and help Sabah’s farming sector.
“I first came to Kota Kinabalu earlier in March, and at the time I did not know much about it, I just wanted to learn and see first.
“We learned that Sabah is the hub for BIMP-EAGA, hence I do hope that we can set up Thai businesses here, and make Sabah a base within the BIMP-EAGA region,” he told Daily Express during the recently concluded Mini Thailand Week 2023, jointly organised by the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, DITP Malaysia Office and Tourism Authority of Thailand, Kuala Lumpur Office, at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, last Saturday.
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The event involved Thai entrepreneurs as well as Malaysia-based distributors divided into six clusters, namely Food and Beverage, Food Innovation, Smart Farming, Lifestyle Products, Bio-Circular Green and Green and Food Processing.
“I had the chance to meet Government officials here earlier in March, and I found that the Sabah Government has a focus on farming and food security. “So we thought about bringing in exhibitors that match the needs here, and that is how we came up with the six clusters.
“(This includes) Smart Farming (exhibitors). They will show how we change the way we do farming, through applications by technology and drones in some cases. We are looking for cooperation in this area,” Worawan said.
On how Mini Thailand Week can benefit both sides, Worawan said it creates a platform for both Thai and Sabah entrepreneurs to network and further strengthen the cooperation between Thailand and Sabah.
“I believe in creating a win-win situation, this is the way I work. I do not just hope about what I can get, but also what I can give, and how both sides can work closely together.
“There is a big potential for collaboration for farming and food security where both sides can learn from each other while we can have Sabah as a base for BIMP-EAGA. “We are not looking for short-term partnership, but rather a win-win long-term cooperation,” he stressed.
Additionally, Worawan said there was a need to establish Business to Government (B2G) links between Thailand businesses and the Sabah Government in order to create a more fruitful partnership and favourable Business to Business (B2B) exchange.
For the record, the DITP is a government agency under the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand. Its mission is to promote and facilitate international trade and investment for its country.
DITP works to enhance the competitiveness of Thai businesses in the global marketplace and foster economic growth through trade expansion.
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