SONGHKLA, Aug 5 — The Selangor government and Thailand are set to deepen their diplomatic ties through food and culture festivals in conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025.
State executive councillor for housing and culture Borhan Aman Shah said this is part of ongoing efforts to showcase Selangor’s identity, while also generating income for tourism industry players in the state.
“Through this effort, we aim to showcase dishes like nasi ambeng, punten, and sate, which are integral to our state’s identity. We hope to use this opportunity to introduce Selangor to Thailand.
“We will also feature a range of products from local entrepreneurs, including coffee and chips that might not be available in Thailand. This effort aims to enhance the tourism and culture sectors of both parties,” he said.
Borhan was speaking to the press after holding a bilateral meeting with the Consul General of Malaysia in Songkhla Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi in conjunction with the Selangor and Thailand 2024 Cross-Cultural Programme today.
The annual event, which started last year, includes work visits to various Asean member countries to introduce and promote Selangor’s art and culture internationally.
This year, the programme was held in Thailand, particularly in the Songkhla, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces, aiming to enhance cooperation between the two governments by empowering culture, art, and heritage.
In the meantime, the councillor said the state government is planning to introduce a student exchange programme between universities in Selangor and Thailand to promote cultural understanding in the future.
On his part, Ahmad Fahmi welcomed the Selangor's initiative, describing it as timely.
“The programme is beneficial as it highlights Malaysia’s diverse attractions, especially in Selangor, which tourists from Thailand may not yet know about,” he said.
— Bernama
