Bangkok: The Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, along with the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) and the US Chamber of Commerce, organized the Thailand – US Trade and Investment Summit 2025: Building on a Longstanding Partnership. The summit aimed to exchange information on trade, investment, and economic issues and to promote trade and investment cooperation between Thailand and the United States. The event also focused on discussing opportunities and challenges in industries with mutual potential. High-ranking representatives from government agencies and the private sectors of both countries were in attendance.
According to Thai News Agency, the event was graced by the presence of Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand. In his opening speech, Mr. Pichai emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation between Thailand and the United States. He confirmed that the Thai government is committed to creating a sustainable, fair, and balanced relationship in the long term. This commitment is part of a cooperation framework aimed at ‘reducing the trade imbalance,’ which is expected to decrease the trade deficit by more than 15 billion dollars. Mr. Pichai also invited US investors to explore natural gas resources in Thailand’s western and southern seas.
Dr. Poj Aramwattananon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, highlighted the longstanding relationship between Thailand and the United States, which has spanned 192 years. He noted the role of ‘Team Thailand Plus,’ a collaboration between the Thai public and private sectors, in promoting tangible trade and investment opportunities with the United States. The event included seminars on issues related to the new global economy, such as agricultural trade and food innovation, environmental initiatives, digital trade and innovation, and the development of creative industries and tourism. Representatives from the Thai and U.S. business sectors participated to exchange views.
Mr. Poj stated, ‘In today’s rapidly changing world, in terms of economics, geopolitics, technology, and the environment, strong cooperation between Thailand and the United States will help both countries meet the challenges and move forward into the future with stability.’
Professor Surakiat Sathirathai addressed the summit, noting that as the world faces a new turning point, Thailand and the United States must jointly ‘design the future’ to advance together. He remarked on the serious tensions testing the international system, built on free trade, strategic alliances, and multilateral cooperation, due to new changes. He highlighted the influence of US-China relations on global economic trends and ongoing conflicts in regions like the Middle East, Ukraine, and Myanmar. Professor Surakiat pointed out the ethical and geopolitical questions raised by new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and emphasized Thailand’s potential role as a ‘bridge builder’ in this uncertain world.
Professor Dr. Surakiat proposed expanding cooperation between Thailand and the United States in four key areas: green energy and sustainable growth, food and health security, digital transformation and AI, and personnel and education exchange. He suggested establishing the US-Thailand Strategic Economic Dialogue for the Next Decade, a platform connecting government, business, and educational institutions to establish a 10-year vision. This vision would focus on resilience, innovation, inclusion, trust, and connectivity, aiming to build crisis-resistant supply chains, co-develop solutions in key sectors, promote equitable wealth distribution, establish shared values and transparency, and create links between policymakers.