Strengthening ties with Thailand

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Thailand offers a chance for us to strengthen ties with a regional ally, something that we must continue to pursue as we get closer to graduating from a least developed country (LDC).

Indeed, with regard to Thailand, it is exciting to learn of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) related to energy cooperation, tourism, and customs and the letter of intent to start the discussion for Free Trade Agreement that would be signed between the two nations, offering mutual benefits to both.
 
However, with the economic partnership between the two nations still largely untapped, there is immense potential that can be harnessed to bolster economic cooperation. It is good to see therefore that both governments recognize this fact and prioritize the removal of trade barriers and simplify procedures to facilitate smoother trade flows. 
 
In addition to economic cooperation, Bangladesh and Thailand share common interests in combating climate change, promoting sustainable development, and addressing regional security challenges. Enhanced cooperation in these areas can lead to the sharing of best practices and technology transfer, contributing to the overall prosperity and security of the region.
 
A particularly exciting avenue to be explored is tourism; cultural exchanges play a vital role in fostering people-to-people ties and enhancing mutual understanding. The fact that there is intent from both Bangladesh and Thailand to explore avenues to promote tourism through joint activities and exchange of expertise in the areas of human resource development, Buddhist circuit tourism promotion, and investment in tourist areas is extremely exciting. 
 
Diplomacy remains one of Bangladesh's most effective tools for furthering development and the time is ripe for Bangladesh and Thailand to elevate their bilateral relations to new heights. It is imperative for both governments to seize this moment and work towards a more robust and enduring partnership.

Source: Dhaka Tribune.