Intervention by H.E. Noppadon Pattama

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

at Roundtable 4: Emergence of a new South and South-South trade as a vehicle for regional and interregional integration for development

At UNCTAD XII

Mr. Chairman,

I wish to thank all the panelists for their views and comments which I found most enlightening. On my part, I wish to offer Thailand’s perspective.

Mr. Chairman,

Thailand has always placed South-South cooperation high on our agenda.  We see great opportunity and benefit in trade, investment and economic cooperation with our developing partners as well as a significant source of financing for development.

 Rapid  economic  growth  and  increased  FDI  flows  from China , India  and  a number  of  developing  economies  have led  to  the expansion of trade and investment in Asia. Thailand’s trade and investment with these countries have substantially increased both in volume and value. Trade with our fellow member countries of ASEAN now accounts for 21 per cent of our total exports. ASEAN’s economic integration process, coupled with the increase in bilateral and regional FTAs, have further contributed to the expansion of trade and investment  in   the  region  and  beyond.

South-South cooperation is also about development partnership for common security and prosperity. We  have  therefore endeavoured  to  bridge  the  development  gap  and  promote  joint  prosperity  with  our  neighbors  in  the Mekong region as well as the developing countries in South and  Southeast Asia. Thailand has been an active member of many sub regional economic and technical cooperation frameworks. Under these frameworks, Thailand, with the support  of  international  financial  institutions  and  related development  agencies,  has  contributed  to  the  development of transportation and communications network, trade, investment, tourism, education, public health, energy and environment. In particular, we have increasingly placed emphasis on Aid for Trade and intend to integrate it  in our development  cooperation  strategies.

Mr. Chairman,            

Another  point which I would  like  to underscore is the important  role  of  the  private  sector and their role in mobilising  innovative  sources  of  financing. Thailand has encouraged the private sector’s investment in infrastructure development projects in particular the transportation and communications sectors as well as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.  The  government, on  its  part, has  facilitated  a  favourable  legal  and  economic  environment  through   trade   and   investment  promotion   and  protection.    

Mr. Chairman,

 In addition to the areas of cooperation that I have mentioned,  especially  with  our  immediate  neighbours, we have  expanded  our  partnership for  development  programmes  now to  many  countries  in Africa through  NEPAD and TICAD. Our cooperation  covers  areas of mutual interests, ranging  from  human  resource development, poverty reduction,  and  public  health  to  Aid for Trade. 

Thailand is ready to discuss further with our African partners ways and means to enhance our development cooperation bilaterally and on a trilateral basis with other development partners.  At the multilateral level, Thailand looks forward to the exchange of experiences and best practices at the high-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation to be  held in Buenos Aires.  

Mr. Chairman,

 South-South trade, investment and development cooperation have generated dynamism for global economic growth. Essentially, what we need is a multi-dimensional partnership for development, comprising of government, international organizations and private sector.  Here, I wish to emphasize  the importance UNCTAD, WTO and ITC in working individually and collectively with developing countries  to realize  the  full  potential  and  benefit  of South-South partnership  including  providing  technical  assistance and  capacity  building  in  trade-related  areas.

Thank you.