Trade turnaround: Russia and Thailand have made progress in launching the Mir map
The financial departments of the Russian Federation and Thailand are discussing the launch of the Mir card not only for tourists, but also to deepen trade and investment. The Thai side should work out the technical and legal aspects, the embassy of this country in Russia told Izvestia. The topic of settlements has already been discussed, in particular, at the first joint investment forum in late November. The possibility of paying with a Mir card will certainly strengthen trade and economic relations between the parties, experts believe. What problems Moscow and Bangkok may face after the integration of the Russian payment system and in which areas bilateral cooperation is now being strengthened can be found in the Izvestia article.
Russia and Thailand discuss the launch of the Mir map
The possibility of using cards of the Russian Mir payment system in Thailand is still on the agenda of bilateral relations, diplomats from both countries confirmed to Izvestia. Moreover, its widest application is being considered: both for tourists and for entrepreneurs.
— As for the Mir card, the relevant Thai and Russian departments are in the process of discussing the possibility of using it in Thailand to facilitate contacts and exchange of goods, investments, as well as to increase the flow between the two countries. However, commercial banks and the regulatory authority need to take into account technical and legal procedures," the Thai Embassy in Moscow said.
Both sides understand the relevance of using the Mir card in Thailand, Russian diplomats emphasize.
— The relevance of this topic is understood both in Moscow and in Bangkok, which, in particular, was demonstrated by the first Russian-Thai investment forum held on November 26-28 in Phuket. However, specific details should be discussed first of all by specialists of central banks and the heads of banking institutions of the two countries," the Russian Embassy in Thailand clarified.
For Russia, the integration of Mir payment system cards in Thailand is relevant, including from the point of view of expanding its influence and financial architecture in the face of sanctions, Elena Pyltsina, senior researcher at the Center for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies at the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia.
— South-East Asia is one of the priorities in the strategy of the Russian Federation's foreign policy strategy. Therefore, of course, Thailand's agreement and willingness to host and develop the Mir system is beneficial to us," the expert stressed.
Nevertheless, when implementing Mir maps, it is worth considering how effective the system will be, Kirill Kotkov, head of the Center for the Study of the countries of the Far East in St. Petersburg, draws attention.
— The main thing is that it doesn't turn out to be like in Vietnam. As far as I know, there are literally several banks that accept them. That is, formally, the Mir card can be cashed out somewhere, but in fact other banks and stores do not accept it. Accordingly, it is mostly useless there," says the orientalist.
By the way, a similar situation is happening in Nicaragua. There is one ATM in the capital of Managua where you can withdraw cash, but it is not yet possible to make a card payment in cafes, restaurants and shops.
Currently, the Mir card is also accepted in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Belarus, Venezuela, Tajikistan and Cuba. Recently, the payment system was connected locally in Azerbaijan and Laos.
How do Russia and Thailand cooperate?
The opportunity to pay for purchases in Thailand with Russian bank cards is especially relevant, given the popularity of the destination among tourists. Russia remains one of the key markets for the kingdom, and the flow of our citizens coming on vacation continues to grow from year to year, Russian diplomats say.
— As of November 30, 1.63 million Russians visited the kingdom. This is the fourth indicator after Malaysia, China and India. For comparison, 1.75 million of our tourists visited Thailand last year," the Russian embassy said.
The extension of the period of visa-free stay in the country especially contributed to the increase in tourist flow. Russians have the right to extend their official stay in the country from 60 to 90 days at the immigration offices of Thailand upon payment of the fee. And in July last year, the Thai government made a temporary 60-day visa-free entry for Russian citizens permanent.
— Currently, the possibility of introducing a 90-day visa-free regime is not being considered. However, Russian travelers and businessmen wishing to extend their stay can apply for an extension of no more than 30 days at the Thai Immigration Bureau. This measure is aimed at simplifying travel and further strengthening ties between Thai and Russian citizens," the Thai Embassy in Russia said.
The interaction between the two countries is not limited to tourism. The parties are currently developing cooperation, in particular, in the field of information technology.
— Thailand declares that it intends to become an IT hub in Southeast Asia, and it is already breathing down Singapore's neck. The Thais are actively considering the possibility of expanding cooperation with Russia in this area," Pyltsina emphasizes.
Moscow and Bangkok are also making progress in cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals and agricultural products. The Russian Federation is equally interested in Thai products, while the Kingdom is interested in Russian goods. Currently, one of the main areas of trade is the import of tropical fruits from Thailand, Kirill Kotkov clarifies.
— Thailand and Vietnam are treading on each other's heels here. But if you go into our store, you will see for yourself a large number of tropical fruits from Thailand," he says.
According to the kingdom's customs service, the trade turnover between the two countries has already reached $2 billion and is growing every year. For example, this year the supply of Russian products to Thailand increased by 50%. Domestic investors have invested $6-7 billion in the kingdom's economy. At the same time, the issues of payments and logistics, of course, remain key issues in this area. Against this background, an active discussion of the integration of the Mir map is most welcome.
It is important to note that the countries have experience of cooperation in the military sphere. Thailand first armed itself with foreign weapons, and then decided to diversify its supplies, Kirill Kotkov notes. For a long time, the kingdom showed no interest in weapons from the Russian Federation, but the situation changed in 2015 after Dmitry Medvedev's visit. At that time, it was reported that Russian military equipment could displace Chinese and American counterparts. As a result, in 2017, Moscow and Bangkok signed a five-year agreement on military-technical cooperation, providing for the supply of weapons and other types of cooperation.
Russia also cooperates with Thailand on international platforms, for example, through BRICS. Since 2025, the kingdom has officially received the status of a partner country and is already showing interest in full membership in the association. Bangkok has already made such a request to India, which will preside in 2026.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
