On September 13, 2024, Ms. Somjai Taphaopong, Consul General in New York, along with Mr. Athikom Daengppun, Consul, met with Ms. Blaine Grimes, Chief Ventures Officer, Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and Mr. Wade E. Merritt, President, Maine International Trade Center (MITC) to discuss opportunities to enhance technical and economic cooperation between relevant Thai agencies and the State of Maine in the future.

 

     Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) is dedicated to providing solutions to the marine sustainable development and also supporting as an accelerator to companies with AI innovation development project aimed to serve the same purpose. In the discussion, both sides agreed to further explore prospects to enhance cooperation in the areas of mutual interests such as blue economy, sustainable fisheries, and adaptation to the climate change.

 

     During the discussion with the President of MITC, Consul General Somjai raised the issues, gathered from a previous meeting with members of the Thai community in Maine, including identifying sources of state financial support for small businesses, especially for local Thai restaurants, seeking support for Thai groceries start-ups, as well as promoting Thai restaurants in local festivals. Moreover, looking at a larger scope for trade and investment with Thailand, Consul General Somjai expressed her readiness to provide information support or connect MITC with relevant Thai authorities in the sectors that match Maine private sector interests.

 

     During this visit to Maine, the Royal Thai Consulate General also brought the mobile consular team to service the Thai community residing in Maine and nearby states, and also took this opportunity to meet with Thai business owners, particularly in restaurant and real estate sectors located on the border areas of three states, namely Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. The inputs from those meetings were also beneficial for further discussions with Maine’s leading technical and economic agencies that will contribute to enhancing partnership in both local and national levels.