The government partners with China to support Thai agricultural products entering the Chinese market, receiving over $166,000 USD from the Mekong–Lancang Cooperation Special Fund to develop the capabilities of 150 entrepreneurs and utilize the Thai–Lao–Chinese railway route.
Today (27 Oct 2026), Ms. Lalida Pertvivatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Office of the Prime Minister, announced that the government is expanding economic and trade cooperation with the People's Republic of China to increase opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, especially in agriculture, to access the Chinese market. The Cabinet approved a draft cooperation agreement under the 2025 Mekong–Lancang Cooperation Special Fund between the Ministry of Commerce and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand. It authorized the Permanent Secretary of Commerce or a delegate to sign the agreement to receive financial support of $166,100 USD (up to 1,229,100 yuan) from China. This funding will support an agricultural trade promotion project via the high-speed railway in the Mekong–Lancang region, aiming to develop entrepreneurs’ capacities and enhance Thai agricultural exports through the Thai–Lao–Chinese railway.
Ms. Lalida said the Ministry of Commerce, supervised by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Ms. Supachai Sutthumpan, prioritizes enhancing Thai entrepreneurs’ competitiveness. This includes leveraging transport connectivity among Thailand, Laos, and China, utilizing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and exchanging essential trade data to help entrepreneurs efficiently plan exports and expand agricultural markets.
For this project, the Ministry of Commerce has assigned the Mekong Institute (MI) as the implementing agency. The target group includes 150 participants from government agencies, private sector, and organizations related to agriculture. They will join training sessions on trade development, FTA utilization, and international data linkage. The knowledge gained will be used to develop a Joint Action Plan to promote agricultural business development and expand trade opportunities within the Mekong–Lancang sub-region.
The Deputy Spokesperson emphasized the project’s key goal is encouraging entrepreneurs to use the Thai–Lao–Chinese railway as an international freight transport link, providing more logistics options and supporting market expansion for Thai agricultural products. It also focuses on enhancing understanding of trade opportunities, regulations, and benefits under FTAs, enabling entrepreneurs to systematically prepare for foreign markets and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Ms. Lalida added that China will allocate $166,100 USD (up to 1,229,100 yuan) to implement the project over three years. According to the draft agreement, China must disburse funds within 20 working days after signing, and Thailand must confirm receipt within 10 working days. The signing date marks the project’s start. The agreement also requires monitoring, evaluation, budget audits, and reporting to ensure transparent use of funds and maximize benefits.
The Mekong–Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (MLCSF) supports cooperation among six member countries: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. China established the fund during the first Mekong–Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in March 2016 to support projects aligned with members’ development needs and shared interests. In 2025, Thailand received approval for 19 projects, including one from the Ministry of Commerce: the agricultural trade promotion project via the high-speed railway in the Mekong–Lancang region.
Ms. Lalida stated this cooperation uses foreign funding to develop Thai entrepreneurs’ capacities without creating obligations on the Thai government budget. The draft agreement does not establish legally binding international commitments. Project implementation will be supervised by relevant agencies to ensure funds are used as intended and benefit the agricultural business sector effectively.
“The government prioritizes expanding trade opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, especially those with export potential in agriculture. Cooperation with China under the Mekong–Lancang Special Fund will provide knowledge and tools to develop businesses and leverage the Thai–Lao–Chinese railway to connect Thai agricultural products to broader markets. This will enhance competitiveness and create long-term economic opportunities for Thailand,” Ms. Lalida said. .
The Deputy Spokesperson concluded that the government will continue promoting economic and trade cooperation with China and Mekong–Lancang member countries, focusing on transport and logistics connectivity, entrepreneur capacity building, and FTA utilization to boost Thai agricultural exports, strengthen the business sector, and sustainably enhance the country's competitiveness.