Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA Sulsel) - Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Paskorn Siriyaphan said the Thai government will strengthen economic cooperation with the provincial administration of South Sulawesi.
"We want to look for more opportunities to increase cooperation with South Sulawesi, especially in the economic field, business, and people to people contact," Siriyaphan said here on Tuesday.
Currently, he said, one of the big companies from Thailand namely Charoen Pokphand Indonesia has invested a considerable amount of investment in the province.
"Bangkok Bank will also open a branch in Makassar, after previously has opened its office branch in Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java), and Medan (North Sumatra)," he said.
Siriyaphan remarked that South Sulawesi province is one of the strategic business partners for Thailand, given that the current exports of South Sulawesi to Thailand is quite high, reaching US$3 million which is dominated by cocoa beans.
Meanwhile, in terms of tourism development, the embassy will encourage the airlines to serve direct flight from Makassar to Bangkok.
"We will discuss this with several airlines in Thailand," he said.
South Sulawesi Vice Governor Agus Arifin Nu`mang welcomed the Thai government`s plan to boost the economic cooperation.
Nu`mang said the potentials of South Sulawesi`s natural resources and human resources make this province the one of the economic growth centers in Indonesia.
"There are about nine million people in South Sulawesi. The province contributes more than 40 percent of the Regional Gross Domestic Product of all provinces in Sulawesi. Certainly, South Sulawesi has potential for investment," he said.
"We want to look for more opportunities to increase cooperation with South Sulawesi, especially in the economic field, business, and people to people contact," Siriyaphan said here on Tuesday.
Currently, he said, one of the big companies from Thailand namely Charoen Pokphand Indonesia has invested a considerable amount of investment in the province.
"Bangkok Bank will also open a branch in Makassar, after previously has opened its office branch in Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java), and Medan (North Sumatra)," he said.
Siriyaphan remarked that South Sulawesi province is one of the strategic business partners for Thailand, given that the current exports of South Sulawesi to Thailand is quite high, reaching US$3 million which is dominated by cocoa beans.
Meanwhile, in terms of tourism development, the embassy will encourage the airlines to serve direct flight from Makassar to Bangkok.
"We will discuss this with several airlines in Thailand," he said.
South Sulawesi Vice Governor Agus Arifin Nu`mang welcomed the Thai government`s plan to boost the economic cooperation.
Nu`mang said the potentials of South Sulawesi`s natural resources and human resources make this province the one of the economic growth centers in Indonesia.
"There are about nine million people in South Sulawesi. The province contributes more than 40 percent of the Regional Gross Domestic Product of all provinces in Sulawesi. Certainly, South Sulawesi has potential for investment," he said.