Food industry
“Polska Ekologia” Association signs agreement with Thailand
D
uring a recent visit by a Thai goverment delegation to Poland, headed by Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand, who stayed in Warsaw from 2 to 5 July, an agreement on trade cooperation between the two countries was signed on 4 July in the Sheraton Hotel. The delegation was accompanied by more than 60 entrepreneurs from Thailand who were interested in starting commercial relations with Poland.
The agreement was signed as a result of the efforts made by the “Polska Ekologia” Association, especially owing to the initiatives taken by Mr Andrzej Parafiniuk, head of the Association’s Auditing Committee. The agreement was signed on behalf of Thailand by Mr Preecha Treesuwan, Advisor
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to Thailand Trade Representatives, and on behalf of the Republic of Poland, by Ms Bożena Wróblewska, CEO of the Polish Chamber of Commerce Promotion Centre. The cooperation agreement provides for the promotion of mutual trade, including the organic farming industry. It also includes collaboration on projects concerning tourism, culture, education and sport, and also cross-investments. Those present at the signing ceremony included Ms Srirat Rastapana, Director General of the Department of International Trade Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, Mr Sathaworn Subsoontorn, Commerce Consul at the Embassy of the Republic of Thailand, Mr Tadeusz Ignasiak, former Commercial Counsellor of the Republic of Poland in Thailand, acting as the representative of the Ministry of the Economy, Mr Andrzej Parafiniuk of the “Polska Ekologia” Association and Ms Jolanta Lyska, Office Manager, as well as Mr Piotr Ziemann of the Association of Polish Butchers and Cured Meat Manufacturers. The event was also attended by journalists and a television crew from Thailand. Thailand is the most prominent partner of Poland as far as Southeast Asia is concerned. The value of bilateral trade has reached more than USD 1 billion, although in 2012 trade between Poland and Thailand was not as intensive – it amounted to USD 730 million. Owing to its strategic geographical situation in
Southeast Asia, Thailand plays the role of a gateway for Poland in terms of trade in other Asian countries. This is of crucial significance in the context of the plan to create in 2015 the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Economic Community, ensuring free movements of goods, services, investments and labour force among its ten Member States. ::