Issue 50

Horizon talked to Paul Robilliard, the Australian Ambassador to Thailand, during the Australia-Thailand Research and Innovation Mission opening ceremony on April 27.

How will Australia-Thailand research and innovation cooperation improve trade between the two countries?
Innovation is now at the top of both the Australian and Thai governments’ agendas. In Australia, the government’s research and innovation agenda is designed to create what Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull refers to as an “ideas boom”. Our bilateral research relationship underpins our joint focus on innovation. There is much we have to learn from each other – from young digital games designers working together, to astronomy researchers collaborating, and to STEM educators sharing their experiences about how best to inspire a passion for science in the next generation. I’m pleased this year’s Australia-Thailand Research and Innovation Symposium has set the stage for an even greater number of commercial research partnerships between Thailand and Australia. Over 190 academic, government and private sector attendees heard about opportunities for collaboration.

Can you provide examples of trade cooperation between the two countries?
Thailand and Australia chose to focus on agribusiness and bioenergy at this year’s Research and Innovation Symposium. These are fields of great importance to our bilateral economic ties, as we look to grow two-way agricultural trade and continue an important partnership on energy. Our trade policy settings – the basis of our cooperation – could be updated to provide better access to the markets of both countries.

What is Thailand’s strength as a trade partner?
Since the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2005, bilateral trade has more than doubled to be more than $A19.9 billion (US$14.8 billion) and Thailand is our eighth biggest trading partner. Greater regional integration may be the catalyst which attracts even more Australian business to Thailand and the region.

How is the Australian Embassy promoting cooperation between the two countries?
Specifically in terms of our economic relationship, one of my own priorities is to intensify our engagement in trade talks and to create the best conditions for Thai and Australian firms to expand, create jobs and deliver economic growth. In parallel, the Embassy is pursuing a range of opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, education, women’s economic empowerment and activities which promote regional growth and prosperity.

Which are some of the big companies in Australia that are investing or manufacturing in Thailand?
Situated in the middle of the emerging ASEAN Economic Community, Thailand offers much to Australian investors. Already, around 180 Australian companies have a presence in Thailand. But the reality is the majority of those companies are SMEs and not just in manufacturing industries. The service sectors are increasingly of interest to Australian investors. Companies are represented in banking, logistics, architecture, to name a few. It’s also important to highlight the substantive and productive contribution Thai investors make to the Australian economy. Thailand is the sixteenth largest FDI stock investor in Australia in sectors as diverse as tourism, agribusiness and energy.