Thailand is revving up trade talks with Tajikistan to increase trade and investment between the two countries, focusing on paper, sugar and rice.
Following recent discussions with Tajik ambassador Ardasher Qodiri, Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said while Tajikistan is a relatively new market with limited trade relations with Thailand, there is potential for future expansion.
Mr Phumtham said Tajikistan could serve as a gateway to Central Asian markets, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Thailand is ready to export products that Tajikistan needs, including paper, sugar and rice, he said.
Tajikistan has diverse resources that can provide raw materials for Thai industries, such as cotton, gold, silver and aluminium, said Mr Phumtham.
He said the discussion was a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the Thai government's policy of strengthening relationships in terms of trade, utilising economic diplomacy to promote exports.
Businesses from Tajikistan were invited to participate in various trade promotion activities organised by the Commerce Ministry, including international exhibitions, online business negotiations and investments under the Board of Investment and the Eastern Economic Corridor policies, said Mr Phumtham.
The Tajikistan government said it recognises the importance of Thailand and Asean, as it plans to establish an embassy in Bangkok in 2026.
The country also invited the Thai government to consider establishing a cross-border warehouse in Tajikistan to facilitate direct trade and distribution of Thai products in the region.
Kriangsak Prateepvisut, president of the Public Warehouse Organization (PWO), said the organisation has held talks with Mr Qodiri regarding the possibility of establishing a cross-border warehouse, akin to what the PWO developed in China and Myanmar.
A warehouse would open up direct trade opportunities for Thailand without passing through intermediary countries, both for imports and exports, he said.
Mr Kriangsak said a cross-border warehouse would enhance the competitive potential of Thai enterprises as products can be shipped in full containers, reducing transport costs.
If established in a free trade zone, the warehouse would also provide flexibility for customs procedures, he said.
If a warehouse is situated in an area with high online market growth, it could easily transform into a cross-border e-commerce warehouse, said Mr Kriangsak.
Government support would allow a warehouse to set low or zero warehousing fees, similar to the approach China employs to help its businesses, he said.
The PWO already initiated such a project, targeting areas in China (Nansha, Wuhan and Kunming) and Myanmar (Dawei), said Mr Kriangsak.
If successfully implemented in Tajikistan, the warehouse could also cover Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, with a combined population exceeding 100 million, he said.
Tajikistan is Thailand's fifth-largest trading partner in the Central Asian region.
In 2023, trade between Thailand and Tajikistan was valued at US$3.12 million.
Key export products include paper and paper products, automobiles and auto parts, refined oil, refrigerators and freezers.
Significant imports from Tajikistan consist of electrical machinery and components, textile products, cotton and aluminium.