PATTANI, Thailand: The visits by delegates from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in southern provinces will help Thailand in promoting its local products.
Pattani governor Patimoh Sadiyamu said she believed these visits were the best platform to attract more visitors to Thailand especially those from the neighbouring countries Malaysia and Indonesia.
She said Thailand products would include batik cloths and foods.
"Apart from batik cloths and Thai foods, there are also many attraction places for tourists to visit in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat," she told Malaysian reporters before welcoming the delegates here today.
Later in her welcoming speech, Patimoh said Pattani had abundant natural resources, especially sea and mangrove forests, as well as magnificent cultural traditions.
"A majority of the population practices Islam. They can live with people of other religions peacefully under the one institution ideology, which is 'the Nation, the Religion, the Monarchy'."
"There are different religious places of worship here in Pattani, such as Pattani Central Mosque, Rat Burana Temple and Chinese Lim Ko Niao Shrine, which become widely known tourist attractions for both Thai and foreigners."
Pattani also has a diverse food culture that has generated income to people residing in the area, she added.
"I believe your visit to the southern border provinces this time will be an open chance for us to work together including the development on infrastructure that would lead to other development areas, particularly in economy, trade and logistics, agro-industry, fisheries and international investment," she said to the delegates.
On another note, Patimoh said education was another area of cooperation, which is of particular importance as a fundamental tool for human resources development.
"The cooperation on promoting and supporting Thai southern border provinces' students to study abroad and to have the opportunity to improve their foreign languages skills will bring them a greater career opportunity in the future.
"These include maintaining good culture and traditions to last forever."
The delegates who took part in the three-day event were from eight countries, which are Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran, Maldives, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Malaysia is represented by deputy chief of mission at the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, Bong Yik Jui.
The visits, which will end on Thursday, is organised by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre.