Senior trade commissioner’s Message

Dear cancham Members:

it has been my privilege and pleasure to work with your new executive this past year, my second, as Senior trade commissioner and Counsellor (Commercial) at the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. My relationship with cancham, and that of the embassy’s trade section, which i am proud to lead, is very strong. For example, every week, i have a bilateral ZOOM call with President Derek van Pelt. This virtual meeting allows Derek and me to review plans and priorities for the Chamber. It is the one weekly meeting i actually look forward to every Wednesday!!

the embassy has awarded several contracts to cancham over the past year, and i must say that the quality of work being produced from our Cancham staff is not only recognized here in the embassy, but back at Global Affairs Canada headquarters, too. That’s why cancham was recently awarded another contract to serve as the secretariat for the future “teach in thailand” program, details of which will be announced when travel is once again permitted freely to the Kingdom. the embassy’s commercial section works to promote canadian economic interests in Thailand. We support the efforts of Canadian companies to who have selected thailand as a market or supply-chain link for their products, services, and technologies. We also assist local partners by matching their needs with the appropriate Canadian firms. We provide support to canadian companies with existing or prospective investments in thailand and to local firms considering investment in Canada. If you know of any leads, please share them with us. Below, please find an introduction to each of the trade team’s trade commissioners, six in total, to direct you to the right person to contact should you need to call on the embassy to help you grow and expand your business, trouble shoot with the government, or lend a hand with any other service where you think we can be of assistance. And, of course, I am here, too, and at your service. See you at the next cancham event, when conditions permit!

Sanjeev chowdhury Senior trade commissioner and counsellor (Commercial)

My name is Gabriel Laflamme (MA [International Studies], institut québécois des hautes études internationales) and I occupy the position of Second Secretary (Commerce) and Vice-consul at the embassy of canada to Thailand. I joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2012. From 2012 to 2014, I worked as a desk officer in the Southeast Asian Division covering Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore. then, i took an assignment in the trade Sector bureau where i was advisor to the Director General from 2014 to 2016. In my current position, i am responsible for the aerospace and defence & security sectors and i cover the trade policy file. Like my trade colleagues at the embassy, i assist canadian companies to find the right local partner so they can further their business in Thailand. I also intervene when there is trouble shooting or when specific information is requested by a Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)’s client from the local government. I will be leaving Bangkok later this year, as my posting comes to an end, but my successor, when chosen, will take over the same sectors that i have covered during my tenure.

I am Surin Thanalertkul. I have been working as a trade commissioner at the embassy of Canada to the Royal Kingdom of Thailand since September, 1999. My role is to assist Canadian Agriculture, Agri-Food and Fish & Seafood companies export their products and services to the thai market including matchmaking canadian suppliers to the right thai contacts, advocacy provided on some market access issues and working collaboratively with key partners to brand canada and canadian products in the market.

My name is Pisite Chaiwattanachai. I am from bangkok, thailand and i joined the canadian embassy in 2006. I am an international trade professional who specializes in helping canadian ict and digital companies export their products and services to the Thai market. by bringing the right contacts together, providing market assessments and advice, and generating leads for ict solutions, i assist canadian and thai companies in matching canadian expertise with thai needs, creating partnerships along the way. I also work with thai companies to assist them in investing in Canada.

My name is Dolrawee (Knack) Akarakupt. I am based in bangkok, thailand and i joined the canadian embassy in 2015 as an international trade professional with a solid network of major players in the energy sector who are trend setters and influencers in the market. i provide assistance to the canadian clients with market assessments and advice based on a strong understanding of the sector and thanks to access to a well-established chain of qualified contacts who have been pre-selected to verify if their needs can be matched with the canadian capabilities and technology. Being in regular contact with local players and project owners in the energy sector gives me a key advantage to discover opportunities for these Canadian clients. I also provide Thai companies wishing to invest in canada with support.

My name is Ekasit Chunlakittiphan. I am the trade commissioner supporting canadian companies in the infrastructure, transportation and Financial Services sectors for thailand. My key role is to help these companies advance their business in thailand by acquiring projects or partnering with thai companies. I am also in charge of Public and Private Partnership (PPP) projects and help Canadian companies who specialize in PPP take part in Thailand’s PPP projects. One of the largest PPP conferences in the world is the P3 conference which takes place annually in toronto, Canada. I have been regularly accompanying thai delegates to attend the conference, most of whom are thai representatives from government agencies and private companies who have plans to launch a PPP project or whom are working the PPP field. My major project is the P3 conference in toronto which takes place every fall. My name is Nitchawan Sriviboone (Pan) and I am born and raised in Bangkok. I have pursued degrees in Thailand and Canada. Prior to joining the embassy of canada as a trade commissioner in 2015, i had ten-years of experience in the private sector in different areas ranging from banking and international trade to private investment. Having first-hand experience in canadian education has allowed me to share my experiences and guide key stakeholders in Thailand. Our mandate in the education sector, beyond international student recruitment, is to build brand awareness – “canada as a study and research destination” – and collaborations between canadian and Thai educational institutions.

Thailand is currently Canada’s second largest overall trading partner in ASEAN, after Vietnam. • Bilateral merchandise trade totaled $4.3 billion in 2020, down from $4.6 billion in 2019. • Canadian merchandise exports in 2020 were valued at $797.9 million • Canada imported $3.5 billion worth of merchandise from Thailand in 2020 • Bilateral trade in services amounted to $509 million in 2019 (According to

Statistics Canada, in 2020) • the stock of canadian direct investment in thailand totaled $326 million, up from $207 million the previous year • thai direct investment in canada in 2020 was valued $57 million, down from $58 million the previous year.