More than 100 Belgian firms will come here in that country's first economic mission in 12 years as Thailand enters negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU.
Michielsen: Having a monarch is a plus
Headed by Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, the focus will be on four sectors _ agro-food, alternative energy and energy efficiency, health care, and infrastructure and logistics, Ambassador Marc Michielsen said yesterday.
Arriving next Monday, the economic mission will be only the second one from Belgium since 2001, with about 150 executives from more than 100 firms participating.
"Belgium is a big exporter of agro products, and with the [Thai-EU] free trade agreement coming up, Belgian companies can help if Thailand really wants to export," said Mr Michielsen.
"You already have good infrastructure, but it will have to continue, because stopping is falling back."
The mission will include seminars on Thailand's economy.
Mr Michielsen said Belgium's crown prince has been presiding over economic missions to promote trade relations for 20 years now.
"If you're a monarchy, it adds value, especially when you have a monarchy like Thailand's," said Mr Michielsen.
Crown Prince Philippe will visit Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, which houses three Belgian-linked investments _ Glow, Katoen Natie and Solvay SA.
In 2011, Thailand ranked 41st among Belgium's trading partners, after Algeria and before Mexico.
Some 23,000 companies are listed in the database of the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency.
About 1,100 of these export to Thailand, while another 1,783 have shown a particular interest in the Thai market.
Mr Michielsen said 80% of Belgium's gross domestic product is produced by small and medium-sized enterprises, most of which have expanded abroad because the EU is too small for sectors such as energy efficiency and pharmaceuticals to develop a niche market.
In the first nine months of last year, Belgian exports to Thailand were worth 695 million euros (26.8 billion baht), up by 11.9% year-on-year.
Precious stones and metals were the main export items, accounting for 197 million euros, followed by chemical products at 162 million and machinery and equipment at 101 million.
Belgium imported 946 million euros worth of goods from Thailand in the period, up by 8.7% year-on-year.
Purchases of machinery and equipment remained in first place, valued at 269 million euros, followed by precious stones and metals at 153 million and plastics at 126 million.