During the networking reception hosted by the APPMA, and sponsored by SMC Australia and New Zealand, at ProPak Asia 2017, His Excellency, Paul Robilliard, Australian Ambassador for Thailand highlighted that Australia is well known in Thailand as a source of commodities, agricultural and food products, automotive components – and as an education destination. Mr Robilliard added that there are many Australian companies active in Thailand; across many industries, including more recently in the services, digital and advanced manufacturing space.
“As Thailand executes its ambitious 4.0 agenda, there will be even more opportunities for our two countries to partner together to achieve our mutual economic development ambitions,”
“It is one of the priorities of my team at the Australian Embassy to deepen, broaden and widen the trading relationship with Thailand. We will do this by helping companies work together, share their expertise and take advantage of opportunities to promote exports of high value goods and services – including, in niche areas such as this one, in the packaging and processing machinery industry. It makes perfect sense for our clever companies to work together in this industry.” Mr Robilliard said.
Thailand is recognised as a manufacturing powerhouse in the region – and as a major exporter of food, industrial and electronic products. One of the obvious sectors is Thailand’s food and beverage industry. Positioning itself as the ‘Kitchen to the World’, Thailand remains the only net food exporter in Asia, and is one of the world’s top producers of food products such as rice, canned tuna, seafood, chicken, tropical fruits, snacks and confectionery; plus increasingly, packaged ready-to-eat foods. The domestically-grown food and beverage manufacturers of Thailand are expanding their presence globally – and much like their multinational competitors, are focussing on processing innovations to provide a greater range of convenient and healthier foods to consumers, as well as presenting these in the most contemporary packaging. Besides food and beverages, Thailand is also a significant manufacturer of household items, electrical goods, and pharmaceuticals; many of which require high standards of manufacturing and packaging.
Thailand is active in attracting a range of other manufacturing and high-value industries to establish in the country; as it focusses on developing the Eastern Economic Corridor and on encouraging the growth of innovation. The increasing sophistication of consumer goods and industrial products is driving the need to deliver more modern and unique packaging solutions – and this in turn is driving the growth in demand for modern and sophisticated machinery and packaging equipment.