Iran, Thailand keen on boosting trade ties
September 01, 2018 - Secretary General of Thailand Chamber of Commerce Jiraphant Asvatanakul (R) addresses a meeting with a visiting Iranian trade delegation, headed by Mohammadreza Karbasi (L) — the deputy head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) for international affairs, on August 31 in the Thai capital of Bangkok.
Iran and Thailand chambers of commerce expressed commitment and willingness to expand cooperation in fields such as trade, culture and tourism, to further develop sustainable ties between the two countries.
The issue was discussed in a Friday meeting in the Thai capital of Bangkok between members of Thailand Chamber Of Commerce and an Iranian trade delegation, currently in Thailand as part of a study visit organized by the Thai Embassy in Tehran and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The visit is aimed at presenting the special health and wellness packages offered by Thai hospitals and clinics to the Iranian delegation, comprising representatives from Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and two other Iranian provincial chambers of commerce from Isfahan in central Iran, and Hamedan, western Iran.
In this meeting, also attended by by Secretary General of Thailand Chamber of Commerce Jiraphant Asvatanakul, the two sides explored ways to promote tourism cooperation between Tehran and Bangkok.
Addressing the meeting, Mohammadreza Karbasi, ICCIMA's deputy head for international affairs, who heads the Iranian delegation, described his country as a gateway to the Central Asian states.
He added Thailand also serves as Iran's gateway to East Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Karbasi called for establishing direct banking ties between the two countries, proposing that Iran and Thailand use their national currencies in bilateral trade.
He said an e-visa service has recently been introduced for foreign travelers to Iran, adding to confront US travel ban, Iran has eliminated stamping incoming tourists' passports at the country's airports.
In January 2017, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting all refugee admissions and temporarily barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries comprising Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Tourism Council of Thailand
In a separate meeting with officials of the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Iranian delegation invited the members of the Thai council to visit Iran.
Addressing the meeting, a member of the Iranian team representing Hamedan Chamber of Commerce, Tahereh Izadi, announced that an international conference will be held in the western Iranian province and invited the officials of the Thai council to attend the event.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will hold the 40th Plenary Session of the UNWTO Affiliate Members in Hamedan Province during November 12-14, 2018.
Speaking at the same meeting, Sahar Amini, another member of the Iranian team representing Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, expressed the Iranian province's interest in attracting foreign investments in development of provincial tourism infrastructure.
She invited the Thai people to visit Isfahan Province as Iran's top tourist destination.
The Iranian delegation left Tehran for Bangkok on August 28 and will return to Iran on September 4.