Qatar–Thailand relations

The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Thailand formed diplomatic relations in 1980. Their cooperation mainly revolves around tourism and energy.[1]

Qatar – Thailand relations

Qatar
Thailand
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Qatar, BangkokEmbassy of Thailand, Doha
Envoy
Ambassador Ahmed Ali A.J. Al-TamimiAmbassador Nathapol Khantahiran

According to the Thailand Labour Ministry, in 2017 there were 1,188 Thai citizens working in Qatar, and were mainly concentrated in the massage services industry and the construction industry.[2] Employment laws regarding Thai workers in Qatar were negotiated and signed into agreement in 2012.[3]

Diplomatic representation

Qatar has maintained an embassy in Thailand's capital Bangkok since 2004.[4][5] Thailand has had an embassy in Doha, Qatar since 2002.[4][6]

Diplomatic visits
Qatari deputy PM Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah meeting with Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2009

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani made his first visit to Thailand in April 1999.[4]

Economic relations

Qatar and Thailand have close links in the energy and tourism industries. Among the GCC members, Qatar is Thailand's third most important trading partner,[1] and its main supplier of LNG as of 2013, supplanting Yemen in that category.[7] Thailand is the most visited health tourism destination for Qataris.[1] Around 30,000 Qataris visited Thailand in 2014.[8]

Qatar's main exports are crude oil, LNG, petroleum-based products, plastics, chemical products, and fertilizers. Thailand primarily exports cars, machinery, jewelry, food items and air conditioners to Qatar.[8] In 2009, the trade volume between Qatar and Thailand was valued at $3.17 billion.[9] This number increased to $4.3 billion 2013.[8]

The first time Thailand received an LNG shipment from Qatar's main gas company, Qatargas, was in 2011.[10] An agreement was signed between the two nations in 2012 for Qatar to supply Thailand with 2 million tonnes of LNG annually for 20 years starting in 2015. Qatargas opened a representative office in Bangkok as part of the deal.[8] The first shipment of LNG supplied as per the deal arrived in Thailand in January 2015.[11] Qatar's first LNG shipment to Thailand via Q-Max vessel, the largest LNG carrier in the world, came in August 2017.[12]

Thailand's Siam Cement Group and Qatar Petroleum jointly subsidized the Long Son petrochemical complex located in south Vietnam in 2014.[13]

Cultural relations

The Thai Embassy in Doha is responsible for arranging cultural activities in Qatar. The embassy organized Thailand's Cultural Night 2015, during which traditional Thai dances and food were showcased.[14] It also participated in the 2015 ASEAN Food Festival held in Doha.[10]

In October 2019, Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Qatar for sports cooperation and exchange. The collaboration would significantly benefit Thailand by boosting the country's sporting potential. International Olympic Committee member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul said, “Qatar is many steps ahead of us. There's a lot we can learn to raise the level of our sports.”[15]

Foreign aid

Following heavy floods in Thailand in 2011, Qatar Charity jointly launched a project in Thailand alongside local organization Awn Al Muslim in an effort to help those affected by flooding.[10]

Qatar is a major funder of Yala Islamic University in Pattani, Thailand.[16] Furthermore, the government financed the construction of a $7 million hospital called Sheikh Jasim Bin Muhammad Bin Thani Hospital in Pattani.[17]

References
  1. "Top Stories : Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Thailand's farewell call on Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. "Over 1,000 Thais are now in Qatar". Thai PBS. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  3. "Thailand and Qatar have exchanged instruments of ratification of an agreement on employment of Thai workers, which becomes effective immediately. The signing ceremony is held at The Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok". Thailand Labour Ministry. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  4. "ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างไทยกับกาตาร์" (in Thai). Thai Embassy in Doha. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  5. "Qatari Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand". embassypages.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  6. "Thai Embassy in Doha, Qatar". embassypages.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  7. "Qatar becomes Thailand's biggest LNG supplier". Alexander's Gas and Oil Connections. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. Ailyn Agonia (5 December 2014). "Thailand, Qatar to cement investment ties: Envoy". Qatar Tribune. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  9. "Thai-Qatari trade ties grow". iloveqatar.net. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  10. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat (25 October 2015). "Thailand's Growing Links With Qatar". The Diplomat. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  11. "Thailand offers to share agriculture expertise with Qatar". 19 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  12. "Thailand Receives First LNG Delivery from Qatar". The Maritime Executive. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  13. "PetroVietnam joins SCG and Qatar Petroleum in Long Son Refinery". 2B1st Consulting. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  14. Raynald C Rivera (5 September 2015). "Thai puppet show fascinates audience". The Peninsula. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  15. "Thai-Qatari MoU signed". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  16. "Southern Thailand and Outside Influences". Asian Correspondent. 7 April 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  17. "Islamic community forges on". Bangkok Post. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
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