Supajee Discusses Trade and Investment with Swiss Business Leaders

Matichon•Economy•5d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Supajee Suthamphan met with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and leading Swiss companies to enhance trade and investment under the Thai-EFTA FTA.

•Supajee Suthamphan met with Helene Budligger Artieda and Swiss business leaders on October 16 at the Ministry of Commerce.
•Both parties aim for the Thailand-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) FTA to enter into force on January 1, 2027.
•The discussion focused on technology transfer and integrating Thai SMEs into global supply chains.
•Trade value between Thailand and Switzerland reached 14,236.28 million USD in 2025.

Overview

•Supajee Suthamphan welcomed Helene Budligger Artieda and Swiss executives on October 16 at the Ministry of Commerce.
•Thailand and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) target the Thai-EFTA FTA to be effective by January 1, 2027.
•Nestlé plans continued investment in Thailand via a new coffee factory and pet food business.
•Kühne+Nagel identifies Thai potential in cloud supply chains and data centers, with plans for warehouse and air transport investment.
•Novartis and Roche seek to expand cooperation in medical research and innovation.
•Oerlikon is interested in expanding investment to support the aviation and semiconductor industries in Thailand.
•Thailand-Switzerland trade in 2025 totaled 14,236.28 million USD, a 31.12 percent increase from the previous year.
•In the first 8 months of 2026, Thailand-Switzerland trade value reached 9,557 million USD, an increase of 26 percent.

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Key Entities

Person

Supajee Suthamphan(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand.

Helene Budligger Artieda(เฮเลเนอ บุดลีเกอร์ อาร์ทิเอดา)

Secretary of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation.

Organization

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️

The Thai government ministry that hosted the discussion with Swiss representatives.

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)(ปลัดกระทรวงกิจการเศรษฐกิจสมาพันธรัฐสวิส (SECO))

The Swiss government body led by Helene Budligger Artieda.

Nestléℹ️

A food and beverage producer planning investment in a new coffee factory and pet food business in Thailand.

Kühne+Nagelℹ️

A global logistics provider interested in Thailand's cloud supply chain, data centers, warehouses, and air transport.

Novartisℹ️

A company in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry seeking research and innovation cooperation.

Rocheℹ️

A company in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry seeking research and innovation cooperation.

Oerlikon

An advanced materials technology company interested in Thailand's aviation and semiconductor industries.

economiesuisseℹ️

A Swiss business organization representative.

Swissmemℹ️

A Swiss business organization representative.

Swissrail

A Swiss business organization representative.

SIFEM

A Swiss economic support agency representative.

SERV

A Swiss economic support agency representative.

Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE)

A Swiss economic support agency representative.

DKSHℹ️

A Swiss business organization representative.

Policy

Thai-EFTA FTA(ความตกลงการค้าเสรีไทย–สมาคมการค้าเสรีแห่งยุโรป (EFTA))

A free trade agreement between Thailand and the European Free Trade Association targeted for enforcement on January 1, 2027.

Place

Switzerland(สวิตเซอร์แลนด์)ℹ️

The country whose business leaders and government officials met with the Thai Minister of Commerce.

Thailand(ไทย)ℹ️

The country seeking to expand trade, investment, and FTA cooperation with Switzerland.