Mitsui & Co Ltd is returning to Thailand to invest in the country with a vow to work with its Thai partners Siam Cement Group and PTT Plc to make investments overseas in joint ventures when opportunities arise. Mitsui & Co Ltd is a leading Japanese trading and industrial firm,

Takashi Yamauchi, chief executive of Mitsui & Co, said that the geographical strengths Thailand currently has will enable the country to enjoy benefits from the forthcoming Asean regional integration.

"The Asean market is growing and we believe Thailand will remain an important hub," said Mr Yamauchi in an interview with Bangkok Post.

The country has a significant industrial base and has a robust supply chain, he added. The Japanese firm has devoted up to US$800 million in Thailand. Most of its businesses in the country are into the trade of different products including steel, machinery, chemicals,  and other natural resources.

Mitsui currently owns 25% of Thai Oil, a joint venture, which is scheduled to make 100,000 tonnes a year of linear alkyl benzene, a key additive for detergent.