On 21 March 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand hosted the 10th Thailand – Israel Working Group Dialogue in Bangkok. The Thai and Israeli delegations were respectively led by Mr. Damrong Kraikruan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and H.E. Mr. Gilad Cohen, Deputy Director General for Asia-Pacific Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. 

 

During the meeting, both sides elaborated on their respective countries’ political and economic developments as well as reviewed the status of Thailand – Israel’s bilateral relations and discussed ways and means to strengthen cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. Topics that were of particular interest included technical and developmental cooperation especially on agricultural and water management, labour cooperation and workers protection for which Israel hosts the largest number of Thai workers in the Middle East, as well as cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and cyber cooperation were also discussed. Israeli businesses, known for their expertise in STI and recognized as a Startup Nation, were invited to explore the business opportunities in investing in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). 

 

Following the meeting, the Israeli delegation paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, to reiterate the close and cordial bilateral relations between Thailand and Israel as well as the determination to transform the fruitful discussion of the Working Group Dialogue into implementation. 

 

The Israeli side also expressed their readiness to cooperate with Thailand in other areas of mutual interests.