Thailand and Italy have agreed to draw up action plans on sectors of high potential between the two countries and to hold the Thai-Italian Business Forum in Thailand, with the participation of a delegation representing numerous Italian business sectors.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin led government officials and business executives in an official visit to Italy from 16 to 21 May 2024 to promote bilateral cooperation in various sectors, such as fashion, food and agricultural technology, defense, energy, space, and tourism.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, on this occasion, Prime Minister Srettha held talks with Ms. Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy. The Prime Minister requested Italy’s support in expediting the Thailand-EU FTA and Schengen visa-free status for Thai ordinary passport holders. He expressed appreciation to Italy for supporting Thailand’s membership application for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and also invited his Italian counterpart to visit Thailand in February 2025.

In addition, the Prime Minister also discussed with Mr. Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardia Region, trade and investment opportunities for Italian companies in Thailand, in particular in the areas of smart farming, electronics, electric vehicles, and clean energy.

During this trip, the Prime Minister also held discussions with more than 15 organizations and leading Italian private companies in various industries, including fashion, food industry and agricultural technology, automotive, aviation and space technology, clean energy, and finance, as well as Formula One racing. 

He presented indigo-dyed fabrics from the Don Koi Project, Sakon Nakhon province, which is the royal project under HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, for Italian fashion companies to consider whether they would use the Thai indigo dyeing process as a part of their fabric production, and he also promoted other areas of cooperation, including education with universities in Milan.

The Prime Minister visited the ADI Design Museum (Associazione Per II Disegno: ADI), a cheese factory, BONI S.p.A., and meat processing plant, Italia Alimentari, to exchange views on special technology and to increase opportunities and cooperation in processed food innovation. He also visited La Rinascente in Milan, which is a success story now owned by a Thai retailer.

Prime Minister Srettha assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Jungrungreangkit to open the Thai-Italian Business Forum and deliver a speech on his behalf. Furthermore, a presentation on the “Landbridge” project was held, while the Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) presented opportunities to invest in Thailand. 

Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Unioncamere (Italian Chamber of Commerce), as well as another MOU for cooperation in the Empowering Innovation and Development of Rail Technology between the Rail Technology Research and Development Agency (Public Organization) and the MERMEC Group.