THAILAND and Bhutan have agreed to forge closer ties in tourism and to formulate a package called “Two Kingdoms One Destination”, while exchanging business missions next year.

After the first meeting of a Joint Trade Commission including Bhutanese Economic Affairs Minister of Lyonpo Lekey Dorji last week, |Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday that the two countries had foreseen closer cooperation in many ways, particularly in tourism, as both are strong in that sector.

“Bhutan has encouraged more Thai investors to do business there as well as help transfer know-how in tourism management and human-resource development,” she said.

The cooperation will emphasise cultural and religious tourism. Meanwhile, the “Two Kingdoms One Destination” package could be promoted and advertised under a single campaign. Bhutan has also encouraged Thai high-end hotel enterprises to invest there to serve rising tourism.

So far, two Thai enterprises have already invested in Bhutan’s hotel business. They are Haven Resort in the town of Paro and DhusitD2 in Thimphu, the nation’s capital.

In the agricultural sector, Thailand has provided support to Bhutan for a long time. It will increase cooperation in harvesting, research for biotechnology and laboratory development.

For its part, Bhutan will set up a trade mission to Thailand early next year in order to showcase its strengths in trade, tourism and investment.

Apiradi said that Phub Zam, chairwoman of Bhutan’s Trade and Industrial Organisation, said her country wanted to attract investment from Thailand in many sectors, including agriculture, tourism, construction, forestry and wood products, education, and film production, and development.

Bhutan is Thailand’s eight-largest trading partner among South Asian countries, and 166th globally. Trade between Thailand and Bhutan was quite small at US$11 million (Bt380 million) last year.

The value of two-way trade during the past five years averaged $15.1 million, but has grown quite strongly at 38 per cent a year. Exports from Thailand averaged $14.98 million, growing by 39.12 per cent a year, while imports amounted to a very small $120,000 a year.

Potential export products from Thailand to Bhutan are automobiles and parts, textiles, machinery and parts, wheat products, processed foods, garments, canned and processed fruits, microwave ovens, electrical appliances, furniture and parts, and paper and printing products.

Import products from Bhutan include wood and products, soap, cosmetics, medical products, fruits and vegetables, and fabrics.

Source: The Nation