DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque delivering her speech at Thailand Week 2025, with the event banner visible in the background.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque during her speech at the Thailand Week 2025

Taguig City, Philippines—Thailand remains one of the Philippines’ top trading partners in the region, according to Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque. This came during the opening ceremony of Thailand Week 2025, Mach 27.

“In 2023, bilateral trade between our two nations reached nearly USD 10 billion, making Thailand our 7th largest trading partner, 6th top import source, and 8th export destination. These numbers reflect not just market potential—but the trust and synergy between our business communities,” the trade chief added.

Organized by the Department of International Trade Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand and the Thai Trade Center Manila, Thailand Week 2025 features over 70 companies showcasing a diverse range of Thai products. These include food and drinks, fashion accessories, beauty, health, and household goods.   

In her speech, Secretary Roque congratulated the organizers and emphasized that the event is even more significant as the Philippines and Thailand celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.  She highlighted that the partnership is rooted in shared values, strong people-to-people ties, and a vision for inclusive economic growth across ASEAN.   

Beyond the immediate trade opportunities presented, Secretary Roque noted that Thailand Week 2025 serves as a platform for collaboration in key areas, including:   

  • Food processing and agribusiness, with a focus on food innovation, halal-certified products, and sustainable agriculture; 
  • MSME development and creative industry promotion; and 
  • Beauty, wellness, and lifestyle industries.

The DTI is committed to fostering this collaboration by facilitating trade missions, encouraging investment linkages, and supporting MSMEs in accessing new markets.  Furthermore, the upcoming Philippines-Thailand Joint Trade Committee is anticipated to further enhance trade, investment, and innovation opportunities.  This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda, focused on strengthening international partnerships for economic growth and global competitiveness.   

Secretary Roque stressed the importance of building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies within ASEAN, especially with deeper economic integration under the ASEAN Free Trade Area and RCEP.  She also reiterated the readiness of Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Bangkok to provide support for future collaborations and partnerships.

“May this week forge not just trade, but lasting bonds of friendship and shared. Together, let us demonstrate the strength of our partnership to ASEAN and the world. Let Thailand Week 2025 stand as a testament to what we can achieve when we unite,” Secretary Roque underscored   

The opening ceremony also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Secretary Roque, Mr. Rangsant Srimangkorn, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Royal Thai Embassy, and Ms. Sutinee Vathana, Director of the Thai Trade Center in Manila.   

Thailand Week 2025 will be held from March 27 to 30 at the Ground Floor, Activity Center Circle, Ayala Malls Market! Market, Taguig City.  The event will feature Thai cooking demonstrations, cultural performances, and business matching activities. ♦

Date of Release: 31 March 2025

Related posts:

BAHANDI Women’s Trade Fair 2025: Showcasing Eastern Visayas’ best products, empowering women entrepreneurs A group photo shows Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque and several staff members, including DTI Assistant Secretaries Chua and Layug, and DTI-PTIC Tokyo STR Dita Angara-Mathay, posed with Japanese business representatives including Mr. Shinji Fukami, Senior General Manager of International Business Division, Mr. Masao Osumi, General Manager, and Ms. Narumi Saito & Mr. Hidetaka Yamanokuchi from the International Business Division. They stand in a room with a gold folding screen backdrop. In front of them on the table are cups of coffee and refreshments.DTI Chief: Taiheiyo Cement eyes major expansion investments into PH infra A group of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Jollibee Foods Corporation representatives are in a conference room, holding Jollibee Funko Pop figures. They are posing for a photo during a partnership event with the Philippine flag and the DTI logo in the background, and Jollibee mascot standing with them.DTI, Jollibee team up to champion sustainable consumer habits DTI brings OTOP to SM City Dasmariñas, expands market for local businesses A group photo of eight individuals: four Japanese representatives and four Philippine trade officials. From left to right, they are are Mr. Yohei Kurisu, Mr. Shigeo Fukuda, Mr. Satoru Wachi, Mr. Shuichiro Ikemoto, DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Special Trade Representative Dita Angara-Mathay, DTI Assistant Secretary Englebert Josef Chua, and DTI Assistant Secretary May Niña Celynne Layug.PH forges green growth partnerships with Sumitomo, Fujifilm, and Chodai in Tokyo The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) delegation with Fiuu, a payment solutions company. Foreign Trade Service Corps champions technology advancement at the 2025 Game Development Summit  DTI taps Meta for enhanced e-commerce oversight At a busy market in SOCCSKSARGEN, Philippines, two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) monitor rice prices. One official in a white uniform shirt and ID badge holds a clipboard looking at it, while the other official in a white shirt stands nearby, observing a vendor in a yellow shirt. who is using an analog scale to weigh rice.DTI conducts simultaneous price monitoring for imported rice in SOCCSKSARGEN