"Thailand and Japan agreed to expand trade and investment for both sides for mutual benefit in all dimensions," Chatchai said. "Thailand will no longer be only a receiver of Japanese investment, but will also actively trade with and invest more in Japan. Japan will also continue to invest and trade more with the Kingdom, as Thailand is considered Japan's second home and a springboard to third countries."
Chatchai said his ministry, as the agency responsible for trade promotion, would also organise business matching for Thai and Japanese enterprises.
He also met with the Japanese ministers of economy, trade and industry and for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The latter minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said his ministry would arrange a visit to Thailand next month to strengthen trade in agricultural products. The mission will include a discussion on development of the farming sectors for both sides and increasing Japanese imports of agricultural products from Thailand.
Yoshihiko Kubokawa, general manager of the farm sales department of the Japan Agriculture Cooperative in Yamanashi, said Japanese farmers were quite satisfied with stable incomes and balanced supply and demand of farm products since they learned to adopt zoning systems to control agricultural output. Japanese farmers have also concentrated on good-quality production rather than quantity so their products enjoy high demand from consumers.
