Davao City warmly welcomed a high-level delegation from the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila, led by Makawadee Sumitmor, Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines.
Accompanying the Ambassador were Economic Counsellor Yupawan Premchit Taniguchi and Administrative Assistant Anna Lorraine Reyes.
The delegation paid a courtesy call to Davao City’s Acting Mayor, Vice Mayor Baste Duterte, at the Matina Enclaves Residences. This engagement marked Sumitmor’s first official visit to the city and signaled a renewed commitment to deepening Philippines–Thailand relations, particularly in the southern region.
During the meeting, both sides underscored the promising opportunities for economic cooperation, with particular focus on agribusiness and renewable energy.
“There is an increasing interest of Thai companies in exploring long-term investments in Davao City’s thriving agribusiness sector.”
The Ambassador recognized Mindanao as the “food basket” of the Philippines and expressed strong interest in fostering agricultural partnerships. She also shared the Embassy’s plans to facilitate visits by prospective Thai investors, noting the increasing interest of Thai companies in exploring long-term investments in Davao City’s thriving agribusiness sector.
“Agriculture will remain a top priority for the city government over the next two years.”
In response, Duterte conveyed the city government’s full support for closer bilateral cooperation. The acting mayor emphasized Davao City’s investor-friendly environment and shared that agriculture will remain a top priority for the local government over the next two years.
Duterte welcomed Thai interest in the region and affirmed Davao’s openness to partnerships that stimulate economic growth and generate employment.
The meeting concluded with a warm exchange of tokens and an invitation from Duterte for the Embassy to join the city’s grand Kadayawan Festival this coming August.
Joining the courtesy call were key city officials: Atty. Rachel Zozobrado, Councilor and Chairperson of the SP Committee on International Relations; Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Councilor and Chairperson of the SP Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry, and Tourism and Beautification; Ragde Niño Ibuyan, Councilor and Chairperson of the SP Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization; April Marie Dayap, Officer-in-Charge of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC); and Harvey James Lanticse, Officer-in-Charge of the City Information Office (CIO).
This productive exchange marks the beginning of a strengthened relationship between Davao City and the Royal Thai Embassy, setting the stage for sustained collaboration, mutual growth, and greater people-to-people and economic ties between Thailand and the Davao Region.
