According to Thai ambassador to Bangladesh Makawadee sumitmor, a trial run of direct coastal shipping between Thailand’s Ranong Port and Chattogram Port might soon begin.
According to a press statement here, the Thai envoy disclosed this when visiting Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin at the foreign ministry on Monday.
In December 2021, Bangladesh and Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a direct shipping route between Chattogram Port in Bangladesh and Ranong Port in Thailand.
The Foreign Secretary and Ambassador talked about areas of common interest during the discussion, including tourism, agrobusiness, coastal shipping, commerce and investment, and people-to-people interactions.
The foreign secretary emphasised the importance of regular bilateral consultations and the expeditious conclusion of outstanding bilateral documents.
Both expected the BIMSTEC Summit to take place soon. The Foreign Secretary was pleased to announce that the ‘Visa Exemption Agreement’ for official passports issued by Bangladesh went into effect in mid-December 2024. Thai Ambassador Sumitmor informed that Thailand will introduce E-visa Service soon, where the applicants can apply online and receive e-visa electronically.
The Thai envoy brought up the Thai trade delegation’s successful July 2024 visit to Bangladesh, which had a favourable effect on Thai businesspeople.
Both emphasised that in order to facilitate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, the 6th Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting must be held in Dhaka as soon as feasible.
The Foreign Secretary asked Thailand for assistance in exchanging ideas, knowledge, and skills in order to market and brand the delectable food of Bangladesh.
In addition to congratulating Jashim Uddin on taking over as Foreign Secretary, the Thai ambassador reiterated Thailand’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations in the days ahead.
