The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has established the Thai-Japanese Industrial Cooperation Institute (TJIC), to emphasize strategic partnership, strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, technology, innovation, human resource development, and to enhance industrial cooperation and business networks between the two countries.

Mr. Supant Mongkolsuthree, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said Thailand and Japan have a long relationship of more than 130 years, with cooperation covered in many fields such as economy, industry, society, culture, as well as technology and innovation. There has been the continuity of enormous Japanese investments in Thailand over the past 50 years, contributing to the prosperity of the industrial sector and technology transfer. Thus, reaffirming that Japan is of great importance to the industrial sector of Thailand. Also, our relationship with other Business Association in Japan has been strong including the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren), in particular, Kankeiren’s Asia Business Creation Platform office has been established with staff stationed at the Federation of Thai Industries in Bangkok. We also work closely with Japanese Chamber of Commerce-Bangkok to drive suggestion and concerns on various issues.

The Federation of Thai Industries highlights this importance, therefore, the "Thai-Japanese Industrial Cooperation Institute (TJIC)” was established with Mr. Chirapan Oulapathorn appointed as its inaugurated Chairman. The institute will be a center of the Federation of Thai Industries in fostering cooperation in promoting trade and investment, exchange economic information with the Japanese government and private sectors, as well as pushing various issues that will facilitate further economic development of the two countries.

Mr. Chirapan Oulapathorn, Chairman of Thai-Japanese Industrial Cooperation Institute, mentioned that, as we all know, Japanese investors are still one of the largest investors in Thailand. Over the past years, the Federation of Thai Industries had opportunities to meet with agencies and organizations from Japan, both public and private sectors to discuss ways to promote mutual investment, trade, innovation and technology. Currently, Japan's industry is spread across many manufacturing sectors. It is the supply chain that plays an important role in domestic production and exports, creating very high income for Thailand

The Federation of Thai Industries believes that it is crucial to have an institute to supervise cooperation with Japan in order to strengthen cooperation with Japanese agencies and organizations. It will also serve as a platform to build business networks, a place for discussion between the public and private sectors of both countries, and a mechanism to drive Thailand 4.0, develop S-curve and New S-Curve industry in order to increase the competitiveness of Thailand and build cooperation in the development of technical engineering personnel to support the Industry 4.0 policy and the S-Curve industry fulfilling the 20-year national strategy of Thailand.