Relations between Thailand and Africa have entered a new phrase of "concrete development", says Krekpan Roekchamnong, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's South Asia, Middle East and Africa Affairs Department.
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Mr Krekpan has voiced optimism about the prospects for cooperation with African nations through positive developments, even though some officials fail to see evidence of much progress.
"We have redefined our Thai-Africa Initiative founded in 2013 by prioritising development cooperation based on trust, equality and mutual interests with African countries and have elevated it into a new policy of Thai-Africa Partnership for Sustainable Development with the ministry's Thailand International Cooperation Agency," Mr Krekpan said.
The director-general will lead a Thai delegation to Ethiopia and Ghana to explore new ways to enhance political and economic cooperation under the Focus Group Programme.
He said the trip is scheduled to take place between April and June.
Another development, he noted, was the third Joint Working Group between Thailand and Sudan which will be held in Sudan in August.
Following the establishment of the Thai embassy in Maputo in June last year, Mr Krekpan said the first-ever Senior Official Meeting (SOM) between Thailand and Mozambique will be hosted by the African side in July to continue the momentum of the existing cordial relations.
"The establishment of the Thai embassy reflects our commitment to Mozambique," he said, adding that the first female permanent secretary of foreign affairs, Busaya Mathelin, is expected to attend the SOM.
His confidence in Thailand's growth with Africa this year was echoed by the first Thai envoy to Mozambique, Russ Jalichandra, who saw several avenues for greater expansion of cooperation between Thailand and African nations.
COOPERATION: After the establishment of the Thai embassy in Maputo in June last year, the first-ever Senior Official Meeting between Thailand and Mozambique will be hosted by the African side in July.
"Mozambique is a logistics hub in southern Africa and also our window of opportunity for trade and investment in this region as a whole," Mr Russ told the Bangkok Post from his Maputo residence.
Nevertheless, Thailand is not there only to reap its own economic benefits but also to help the local people strive for sustainable development, Mr Russ said.
"The local authorities have requested the embassy to share knowledge and experience in rice cultivation, aquaculture and beekeeping."
The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej's sufficiency economy philosophy, which is based on moderation and prudence, has also been taught to villagers in Mozambique as well as southern African countries like Lesotho and Swaziland.
"Poverty, lack of know-how and lack of basic infrastructure resulting from the Portuguese colonial era and the 16-year civil war are among the biggest challenges the Thai officials face here," Mr Russ said.
Regarding trade and investment opportunities, the Board of Investment in January signed a memorandum of understanding on investment promotion with the Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa.
During the interview, Mr Krekpan also revealed that a similar MoU will be completed with the Seychelles to facilitate Thai investment.
However, he has insisted that Thai businessmen must invest in value-added segments to build a win-win situation and ensure mutual benefits.
"We have made it clear to our private sector that their conventional business approach is no longer workable in Africa. They not only need to abide by international standards but also need to add value to the sectors in which they invest," he said.
Mr Krekpan has promised to back measures to set up direct shipping routes, improve banking transactions and reduce overlapping trade and investment regulations which are undermining factors and hinder Thailand's trade with Africa.
"We will start negotiations and conclude bilateral agreements such as on trade, investment promotion and double taxation avoidance," he said, adding that the Commerce Ministry is responsible for pushing ahead with the plans.
In other areas, African nations are seeking further cooperation from Thailand to help them to build food security and to expand the scope of their public health services.
"After Thailand became one of the few countries to break mother-child HIV transmission, the country is keen to share its experience and practices of preventing and combating HIV with our African friends," Mr Krekpan said.
Despite the fact that Africa's large population has very low purchasing power, the doors are open for Thailand to widen its global share of halal food because more than 60% of African citizens are Muslims, he said.
Currently, 2,500 Thai Muslim students are studying in Egypt and 500 are in Sudan, while about 5,000 Thai nationals are working in South Africa, making it the biggest Thai community on the African continent.
To promote better understanding among Thai people at large, an event called "The Colours of Africa: Opportunity, Friendship and Cooperation" will be organised on June 26-27 at CentralWorld.
"Africa has changed a lot. Africa today is not the Africa of yesterday," Mr Krekpan stressed.
According to Mr Krekpan, the exhibition will feature African art, cultural shows, a seminar on trade and investment opportunity in Africa and showcase African products.