Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand and France have discussed plans to improve the two countries’ defence industries at a special seminar, with the Thai government looking to procure defence products worth 200 billion THB (5.48 billion USD) over the next 20 years.
The seminar was co-chaired by Thai Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang and French Ambassador to Thailand Jean-Claude Poimboeuf with the participation of several high-level officials from defence-related agencies and 100 Thai and French entrepreneurs.
The seminar followed Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in France in May and Sutin's visit to Paris in June for the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition.
According to Sutin, the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East are resulting in several countries using a large amount of defence equipment, accumulating arms and investing in their defence industries. He mentioned four types of defence products Thailand is producing -- armoured vehicles, warships, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and firearms and ammunition, adding the country has the opportunity to sell such products to ASEAN member nations, Middle Eastern and African countries.
In addition, he revealed that the Thai government will procure 200 billion THB worth of defence vehicles, warships, UAVs, firearms and ammunition. Therefore, if these products are manufactured in this country, a great amount of revenue will be generated for the economy.
In mid-May, Thailand and France signed a letter of intent (LOI) between Thailand's Defence Industry and Energy Centre and France's defence procurement agency, the Direction Generale de l'Armement (DGA), aimingd to boost investment and establish defence industries network between the two countries./.
