On July 1, 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur hosted the IGNITE THAILAND in Kuala Lumpur: Enhancing Thailand-Malaysia Cross Border Connectivity Through Public-Private Partnership conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event comprised an Economic Forum and Business Matching activities. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, and Dr. Mohd Shaharin Bin Umar, Director of Regional Development Division, representing the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy of Malaysia, delivered opening remarks. Distinguished representatives from both Thai and Malaysian public and private sectors participated in the panel discussions.
During the conference, the Director of International Strategy and Cooperation Division, representing the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), delivered a presentation on “Thailand-Malaysia Cross Border Physical Connectivity Projects with Trade and Investment Opportunities.” The presentation provided updates on the development of Thailand-Malaysia border connectivity projects and bilateral trade and investment opportunities. The presentation covered: (1) Current economic overview of Thailand and the Southern region (2) Area-based development plans, including the Southern Region Development Plan, Southern Border Provinces Development Plan, Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) development, and the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas (JDS), with NESDC as the key implementing agency (3) Infrastructure connectivity, summarizing progress on various projects including road connections, railway links, airport projects, and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) development in the Southern region to enhance cross-border travel and transportation capabilities, and (4) Trade and investment opportunities, highlighting opportunities in key industries under the IGNITE Thailand policy, including investment promotion policies for SEC and SEZ in Thailand’s Southern region.
The conference, attended by over 200 participants, served as a crucial platform for promoting understanding and exchanging latest updates on Thailand-Malaysia border connectivity projects and bilateral trade and investment opportunities. It also strengthened networks between Thai and Malaysian private sectors, enabling Thai businesses to effectively prepare for entry into the Malaysian market, particularly food and halal businesses from Thailand’s Southern region. This aligns with the proactive economic diplomacy and IGNITE Thailand policy of the government, which aims to establish Thailand as a global industrial hub.
