Message from the Ambassador

It is my great pleasure to congratulate the Thai-Russian Trade Association on its successful transition to become the Thai-Russian Chamber of Commerce. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and support for the newly established TRCC’s activities and endeavors in promoting trade relations between Thailand and the Russian Federation. The establishment of the TRCC as a direct successor of the TRTA, which has been set up in 1999 following the 100^th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and the Russian Federation, is a major step on the part of the private sector in realizing the recent years’ trade and investment-related objectives which were outlined by the governments of the two countries and most recently endorsed at the highest level during the official visit to Thailand of the Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin in 2003. It is not accidental that this milestone visit was mostly centered on issues of economic and trade cooperation.

Being composed of both Thai and Russian companies operating in many different spheres of business – from commodities trade and industrial technologies to tourism, education and even medical services,  the TRCC is now an active participant of all major bilateral activities and events related to Thai-Russian economic and trade relations as well as social and cultural cooperation. Especially noteworthy in this respect is the active role played by the Chamber in the establishment of the Thai-Russian Business Council.     Today we are witnessing a period of enhanced growth of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. In 2004 the trade turnover between Russia and Thailand increased by nearly 30% and totaled 1,332 Mln. USD, for the first time in history surpassing the 1 billion mark. And in 2005 it grew even faster (by 56%) and totaled almost USD. 2bln. The main products exported from Russia to Thailand are rolled steel and scrap metal, fertilizers, unprocessed minerals, synthetic rubber, pulp and paper, etc. Russia imports sugar, rice, electronics, garments, shoes, canned food and many other high-quality Thai products.

However, the huge potential of Thai-Russian trade has not yet been fully realized. There is much more room for the expansion of Thai exports to Russia as Thailand is known in the world for its high quality and competitively priced goods. While Russia can offer to Thailand many interesting high-technology products.

There are also many prospective spheres for economic cooperation and joint investment opportunities between the two countries in such areas as automotive and spare parts production, ship-building, environment protection, information and space technology, air transportation, waste management, nanotechnology, solar energy, biotechnology, construction materials production and many others.

I also see the broad potential for cooperation in various fields between Thai and Russian companies and the regional level.

The positive developments seen today in every aspect of Thai-Russian trade and economic relations are reflected in a corresponding increase in the membership of the TRCC. It is noteworthy that among its more than 40 member companies are some of Thailand’s leading and most influential business groups, such as Loxley, CP, Siam Cement and others.  

I would like to conclude my address by wishing the Thai-Russian Chamber of Commerce every success in its important endeavors and by expressing the support and readiness of the Russian Embassy and Trade Representation of the Russian Federation to assist the TRCC in its activities aimed at further strengthening the friendly and mutually beneficial economic cooperation between our two countries.

Yevgeni V. Afanasyev  

Ambassador of the Russian Federation,

Honorary Chairman of the

Thai-Russian Chamber of Commerce