Ambassador’s visit to Yamagata Prefecture

19/06/2024

On 19-20 June 2024, His Excellency Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador, visited Yamagata Prefecture at the invitation extended by the Yamagata &Thailand Friendship Association. During the visit, the Ambassador attended the 6th General Meeting of the Association, and paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Yoshimura Mieko, Governor of Yamagata Prefecture, as well as Mr. Sagae Hiroji, President of the Yamagata & Thailand Friendship Association. They discussed ways to promote Thailand-Yamagata relations, particularly on people-to-people exchanges in business, tourism, culture, education, and R&D sectors. The Ambassador also emphasized the importance of an extension of the visa exemption for Thai tourists, which will contribute to stimulating Japan’s national and local economies, as nearly one million Thai tourists came to visit Japan in 2023, reflecting their positive impression and appreciation of Japan’s hospitality, cultures, tourist destinations, merchandises, just to name a few.

The Ambassador also visited the Yamagata Tourist Information Center, Muay Thai Kickboxing Ys.k Yamagata, and the Oriental Carpet Mills known for its renowned craftsmanship, to further explore Thailand-Yamagata cooperation opportunities.

The Yamagata & Thailand Friendship Association was established on 5 November 2018 in which the Governor of Yamagata Prefecture and the Ambassador of Thailand to Japan - in an ex officio capacity - serve as special advisors to the Association. Currently, the Association has got 204 corporate members and 35 individual members and has been organizing activities to promote relations between Yamagata Prefecture and Thailand in wide-ranging areas, including business, academia, and culture. The association is planning to hold the first Mini Thai Festival in Yamagata Prefecture in October 2024.