Chambers of commerce in three southern border provinces have told the government to propose joint ventures to Saudi Arabia as a way to stimulate trade.
The request was made at a recent meeting of focus groups in Pattani, attended by the chambers of commerce in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. The forum discussed investment after Thailand recently restored diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia after 30 years.
Nimet Prompayat, chairman of the Narathiwat Chamber of Commerce, said agricultural land in the three southern border provinces is abundant but developing farmland is a budget-intensive business. The process of clearing the land alone requires the use of backhoes, which cost at least 1,000 baht an hour to rent.
Mr Nimet suggested the government approach the Persian Gulf country, possibly with an invitation to invest in the leasing of land to grow cash crops with high market demand such as rice, coconuts, watermelons and bananas, which could be exported back to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Narathiwat's provincial airport could handle the export and import of such products.
Mr Nimet said the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and the private sector have worked together to spur investment.
The plan would help create jobs for locals and drive the economy.
Natthanon Phongthanyaviriya, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for the southern region, said relations between the two countries are set to flourish.
In the past six years, Thailand has presented products for promotion during the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, while private-sector parties from the Middle East and Holland have also extended their support for the growing and harvesting of peppers and coffee beans.
Mr Natthanon said Thailand placed an emphasis on promoting Halal meats -- notably beef, goat, lamb and poultry -- as long ago as 1997.
However, as most of these are produced in the northeastern provinces as well as the western province of Ratchaburi, a plan to develop Phatthalung, a province in the lower South, into the next meat production centre is progressing at a slow pace, he said.