JEDDAH, 19 December 2002 — As many as 8,500 Thai pilgrims, 2,000 more than last year, will fly in from Bangkok for the upcoming Haj, Thailand’s top diplomat here said yesterday.
"The increase in the number reflects the country’s economic pickup," new Thai Consul General Suvat Chirapant told Arab News yesterday. "However, the number is far short of 20,000 who came for Haj in 1996. But thereafter, the bubble burst and the country was enveloped by economic crisis resulting in reduced numbers in later years," said Chirapant who arrived on Saturday. He hosted a national day reception, marking the 75th birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, at Al-Salam Holiday Inn Hotel on Tuesday night. A large number of local officials, diplomats and businessmen were present.
He said both Saudi Arabian Airlines, which discontinued its flights to Bangkok since October, and Thai Airways, an offline carrier here, would operate Haj charter flights to transport the pilgrims. Thai Airways is operating four such flights.
Chirapant, a career diplomat who has come with "strong determination to restore bilateral ties to their old glory", said: "My topmost priority is to bring the two kingdoms closer."
Bilateral relations have remained tainted due to the murder of four Saudi diplomats, disappearance of a Saudi businessman and a jewelry theft case in the Kingdom some years ago. A new committee, led by the justice minister, has been appointed to reinvestigate the cases, he said, adding: "It’s also my task to update the local authorities with the progress made from time to time."
However, trade between the two countries has been steadily going up from $889.4 million in 1998 to $991.7 million in 1999 and $1.47 billion in 2000.
Last year, it further rose to $1.69 billion, with Thai imports standing at $1.34 billion and Saudi exports at $350 million.
According to him, Thailand is considered to be the Detroit of Southeast Asia due to a number of manufacturing plants the world’s leading companies have opened. They include GM, Ford, Toyota and BMW. "So export of cars and their parts and accessories has been continually increasing.
Likewise, the country, which has good agricultural and tourism base, excels in export of engineering goods, electrical appliances, garments and computers," said Chirapant who regularly visited the Kingdom between 1992 and 1995 as staff of then Foreign Minister Dr. Surin Pitsuwan. The minister is in the opposition now.
The population in the Kingdom is 20,000, 50 percent of them in the Western Province.
