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PM David Cameron appointed UK parliamentarian, Mark Garnier MP, as trade envoy to Thailand

Sir Simon McDonald, Head of the UK Diplomatic Service, informed Thai PM Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha that British PM David Cameron had appointed Mark Garnier MP as trade envoy to Thailand.

Mark Garnier MP

At their meeting in Bangkok on 2 February, the Head of the UK Diplomatic Service, Sir Simon McDonald, was pleased to inform Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha that British Prime Minister David Cameron had appointed UK parliamentarian, Mark Garnier MP, as trade envoy to Thailand. This underlined the importance the UK attached to its trade and investment partnership with Thailand.

Mr Garnier brings considerable expertise and insight to his new role. Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Mr Garnier was an investment banker for 27 years, which included 15 years dealing with the emerging markets of South-East Asia. Speaking on his appointment as trade envoy, Mr Garnier said:

Thailand is a country I have visited often, both as a tourist and for business. I have enjoyed working with the commercial sector in the past and I look forward to bringing this experience to practical use in the future, playing a key role in developing the trade relations between our two countries that can be so beneficial to both the people of Thailand and to businesses in the UK.

Further information

Mark Garnier MP was first elected to parliament in 2010, for the West Midlands constituency of Wyre Forest. With a history in the financial and business world, Mark quickly brought his experience to use on the Treasury Select Committee and the Parliamentary Commission for Banking Standards. He remains a member of Treasury Committee and speaks on issues such as banking standards, financial regulation, and the UK economy and competitiveness. Mark is also vice chairman of the All Party China Group where he leads on financial services and takes a wider interest in a range of issues from the UK space sector to financial education in schools, and from heritage railways to the UK’s membership of the European Union.

Before coming to Parliament, Mark Garnier spent 27 years as an investment banker and investment manager. During this time, he spent 15 years specialising in the emerging markets of South East Asia and brings a wealth of practical experience to the role of trade envoy to Burma, Brunei and Thailand.

Follow the Permanent Under-Secretary (PUS) on Twitter @SMcDonaldFCO

Follow trade envoy to Thailand on Twitter @Mark4WyreForest

Published 3 February 2016