Thai business people in the southern border provinces and their counterparts from Malaysia and Singapore have discussed their trade and investment opportunities in a business matching event organized by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC).

The business matching took place at the Crystal Hotel Hat Yai in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, on 1 December 2023. On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin gave a keynote address on the topic “Direction for the Development of the Southern Border Provinces.”

SBPAC Secretary General Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak said that the business matching had received a positive response from participants in this event, aimed at opening up local and overseas markets for Thai halal products and services from the deep South.

The business matching was also intended to promote business cooperation between Thailand and neighboring countries and to generate employment and income for local residents in the southern border provinces.

Mr. Somsak stated that, in this business matching event, several Thai, Malaysian, and Singaporean entrepreneurs were able to conclude their business deals. The successful business matching came after their confidence was raised, following the meetings between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in October and November 2023.

Mr. Somsak said that he had visited Malaysia and met two Malaysian deputy prime ministers and four deputy ministers. He found that Malaysia was interested in co-investing with Thai business people, especially entrepreneurs in the deep South.

They are also interested in packaging Thai products stamped with the Malaysian halal logo, which has been recognized in accordance with Islamic rules. Mr. Somsak said that Thailand needed to adopt the Malaysian halal logo for the time being. Prime Minister Srettha had announced that Thailand would establish a halal department to specially handle this matter for greater recognition of Thai halal products and services in the future.

Concerning the development of the southern border provinces, he said, Malaysia is also interested in the proposal of SBPAC to establish twin cities between the southern border provinces and Malaysian states for the upgrading of border development between the two countries.