The Embassy of Thailand to Kenya has
committed to deepening ties with Kenya, focusing on it 5Fs concept on Food,
Fighting, Film, Fashion and Festivals.
Speaking during Thailand National Day, Thailand Ambassador to Kenya Morakot Janemathukorn said they believe in cooperation with key focus on resilience, sustainability and inclusivity.
“Thais learn to be sustainable through
three factors; moderation, reasonableness, and self-immunity incorporated into
our daily lives both in the public and private spheres. While the focus is
applied more on agriculture, we indeed have abundant creativities in other
economic and social areas,” she said in Nairobi.
To support these engagements, Ambassador Janemathukorn said Thailand International Cooperation Agency held high-level meetings with the Kenyan government in September this year and will be followed by the Thailand-Africa Development Forum early next year.
“The meetings and the Forum focus on the future collaboration in development cooperation for the years to come. Furthermore, the Embassy initiated a visit for the Kenya Medical Research Institute in order to share our successful policy on the application of Thai traditional and alternative medicine in the modern public health system, one of the most renowned in Asia,” she added.
Further, she noted that Thailand also
invited, for the first time, BCG [Bio-Circular-Green] - related
companies from Thailand to explore potential cooperation with Kenya.
“On top of that, we are helping Kenya’s new generation to build new skills and capacities for alternative job opportunities on Thai cuisine and martial arts-related jobs in Kenya and beyond,” she added.
And as Kenya marks 60 years of its diplomacy, the envoy said Thailand is pleased to be part of Kenya’s success, and that they are on the right track to bring closer relationship and inclusivity for good causes, “especially in people-to-people connectivity”.
“Amazing Thailand is now meeting Magical
Kenya. This year, we are sharing the secret recipe of our success in tourism,
focusing on four of the aforementioned Thai “5Fs” concept to promote our
culture to the world.
“Increasing public awareness by the Kenyan entrepreneurs and youngsters induces us to bring 3 some renowned Thai professionals from Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, Lanna Fighting Muay Thai and Tee Sud Show, to share how to do some of those 5Fs well with the local ingredients,” she said.
The Kenyan government was represented by Agriculture PS Paul Ronoh, who was the guest of honour, and Ambassador Jane Makori, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director General at Asia and the Pacific Directorate.
PS Ronoh said Kenya and Thailand enjoy
close relations at both bilateral and multilateral levels since the formal
establishment of diplomatic ties in 1967.
“The Kingdom of Thailand has been a dependable partner in provision of technical and capacity development assistance in health, education and agriculture sectors. Kenya deeply appreciates the continued assistance through the Thailand-Kenya Agro-Technology Learning Center in Nyeri,” PS Ronoh said.
On the trade relations, the PS said there
is potential to expand, as Kenya exports to Thailand only $28.8 million,
compared to $140.1 million as of 2023.
“This is not reflective on where we should be as much as Kenya is serious in addressing the imbalance of trade,” the PS noted.
In an earlier meeting in August this year,
Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei urged Ambassador Janemathukorn to have Thailand
increase investments in Kenya and for the fast-tracking the second session of
the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation to further expand Kenya-Thai
cooperation avenues.
“The hosting of the 2nd Session of the JCBC would provide a framework for increased collaboration, considering that the JCBC was established on 9th November 2005, with the inaugural session held in Nairobi in June 2010 and the 2nd Session set to be held in Thailand,” the ministry said in a statement in August.
She also indicated Thailand’s plans to increase investments in Kenya, particularly in the hospitality sector.
