Thailand

Political relations

Thailand is France’s oldest partner in Southeast Asia. The two countries celebrated in 2016 the 160^th anniversary of their relations, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Trade between Siam and France on 15 August 1856. The establishment in France of the first embassy of the Kingdom of Siam, led by Kosa Pan, dates back to 1686.

This historic relationship remains excellent and continues to develop. Thus, the two countries signed in February 2022 a roadmap for Franco-Thai relations (2022-2024). 

Economic relations

Thailand is our 9^th largest partner in Asia and our 2^nd largest trading partner in ASEAN. After a fall in the volume of bilateral trade in 2020, it rebounded sharply in 2021 (€4.5 billion) and in 2022 (€5.2 billion) to stabilise in 2023. Although our trade remains structurally in deficit with Thailand, the imbalance narrowed in 2023 (deficit at €1.7 billion against €2.3 billion in 2022) thanks to the good performance of French exports, particularly aeronautics, and the almost generalized decline in our imports.

In the country, our economic presence is based on the establishment of about 290 subsidiaries of large French groups or SMEs, employing approximately 45,000 people for a total turnover estimated at €6.5. billion in 2021, to which are added about 200 companies owned by French investors residing in Thailand.

In 2022, the stock of French investments in Thailand amounted to $2.9 billion. France is the 3^rd European investor in Thailand and was the 16^th overall investor in the country in 2022 (latest figure available). Thailand is the 33^rd investor for FDI in France in 2022, the 6^th Asian investor and the 2^nd in ASEAN, behind Singapore.

Thailand is the first tourist destination of the French in Southeast Asia, with, before the Covid-19 crisis, nearly 750,000 tourists per year (half of the French visiting the Asia-Pacific zone). It hosts with Singapore the largest community of French residents in Southeast Asia (nearly 15,000 registered, about four times more than in 2000) with between 32 and 40,000 French de facto residents in Thailand. France welcomes an average of 101,000 Thai tourists per year, a figure that has doubled in ten years.

Trade between the European Union and Thailand amounted to €40.2 billion in 2023, making the EU the country’s 4^th largest trading partner. The EU is Thailand’s third largest export market (€25.2 billion in 2023) and its third largest importer (€15 billion in 2023). Trade primarily concerns industrial and transport equipment.

This page has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancy, the French version shall prevail.