PHUKET: Government officials in Phuket are preparing to welcome a ministerial delegation from Bhutan next week as part of a Joint Trade Committee (JTC) to the island as the two countries seek to reach a preferential trade agreement (PTA) on select goods and tariffs to complete.
Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew yesterday (21th The Thai-Bhutanese JTC meeting will be held at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket on April 27-29.
In addition to Governor Narong, the meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrabam, Phuket Provincial Secretary of State Somprat Prabsongkram, Deputy Director of Internal Security of Phuket Province Rear Admiral Kanokpol Pimthong, Commander-in-Chief of Phuket Provincial Police Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong and Deputy Prime Minister of Phuket Province Administrative Organization (PPAO) Anupap Wechvanichsanong.
Also present were Phuket City Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas, Woranit Aphirat Jirawong of Phuket Province Commercial Bureau, Communicable Disease Group Head of Phuket Province Prison Bureau, Dr. Kusuma Sawangphan, and Mr. Krishna Tipayachan, Commander of Phuket Prison.
Ms Woranit said the upcoming JTC meeting will be organized by the Department of International Trade Negotiations and will bring together the Vice Prime Minister and ministers from both countries, with Thailand’s Trade Minister Jurin Laksanawisit serving as the chair.
The aim of the two-day meeting is to set up a PTA between the two countries and negotiate tariff reductions based on an exchange of different goods of different quantities.
Ms. Woranit also stressed the strong traditional ties between Thailand and Bhutan, evident from the respective royal families of the two countries to the people of each nation. She highlighted ties of a cultural and religious nature that strengthen ties between the two countries, adding that as the host of the meeting, Thailand will ensure a safe and comfortable stay for the Bhutanese participants.
She further explained that additional activities are planned for the Bhutanese guests during their stay, such as a visit to the Phuket Pineapple Plantation, which has been certified by the Thai Geographical Indication Product Standard, as the pineapple is seen as the symbol representing Phuket’s identity .
Concluding, Ms. Woranit said she hopes all Phuket residents will join forces to serve as respectful and accommodating hosts to give the overseas guests the right impression and ensure the JTC meeting is a resounding success.
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