Russia-Thai forum eyes $4.5bn - Bangkok Post
Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, fourth left, poses for a group photo with Thai business leaders, including Dr Somsak Leeswadtrakul, third left, honorary adviser to the Russian-Thai Business Council (RTBC) and honorary adviser to G-Steel; Pimjai Leeissaranukul, fourth right, chairwoman of the Federation of Thai Industries; Thiraphong Chansiri, left, chief executive officer of Thai Union Group; Ivan Demchenko, second left, chairman of RTBC, and Vladimir Kovalev, right, executive director of the RTBC. The second Russian-Thai Investment Forum in Bangkok attracted more than 2,000 participants and over 1,000 companies, representing investment potential of more than US$4.5 billion (152 billion baht).
The event, which was held from last Thursday to Saturday at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok, brought together business leaders and representatives from both countries to explore opportunities for bilateral investment and economic cooperation between the nations.
On the last day of the event, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov also met leading Thai business executives and representatives of business associations at a meeting organised by the Russian-Thai Business Council (RTBC) as part of the forum.
Participants included Ivan Demchenko, chairman of the RTBC and Novostal-M; Pimjai Leeissaranukul, chairwoman of the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai-Russian Business Council; Dr Somsak Leeswadtrakul, honorary adviser to the RTBC and GSteel Group; Thiraphong Chansiri, president and chief executive of Thai Union Group; and Alexei Repik, founder of R-Pharm and chairman of Business Russia.
Mr Reshetnikov highlighted the mutual interest among Russian and Thai companies in expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
"We hope that this open dialogue will help translate this interest into concrete initiatives and long-term partnerships," he said.
He also highlighted growth in bilateral trade and outlined plans to increase Russian food and energy supplies to Thailand, as well as develop joint projects in tourism and information technology.
