RIYADH: The Thailand International Mega Fair brought Thai businesses in contact with Arab flair in Riyadh.

The three-day event, which concluded on Sunday, showcased Thailand’s presence in the Middle East by featuring innovative Thai products and services across various industries.

Marking a historic collaboration between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, the fair signaled a new era of trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

One of the featured brands was Oud Era, a Thai lifestyle brand offering oud-infused products including perfumes, oils, oud chips, and body care items. Its perfumes incorporate Arabian notes like musk, rose, and amber.

Kasaama Pohsa, chief brand officer at Oud Era, said that the oud is sourced directly from the brand’s agarwood factory, ensuring an entirely in-house production process.

Thailand is recognized as one of the leading exporters of oud, which is valued for its longevity and a scent that intensifies as the wood matures. Pohsa said that her clientele primarily comprises customers from Gulf countries.

Pohsa said: “The reason that we came to this exhibition is because we saw the high potential of the Saudi market. It is a very big market with high purchasing power.”

The fair also showcased fashion brands like Marada Clothing, a label known for its distinctive textiles and bold designs.

Panasan Suksanguan, brand officer of Marada, told Arab News that the brand aims to establish itself in the Middle Eastern market with its unique take on long dresses.

Suksanguan said: “We want to be the first ones from Thailand to be here. Whenever you think about fashion in Thailand, you think of me.”

The event showcased more than 200 brands offering prominent Thai products across sectors including food and beverages, tourism and hospitality, health, automotive parts, smart agriculture, innovation, and fragrances.

It was organized by Index Creative Village in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, and Cosmos Events company, with support from the Royal Thai Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The event attracted thousands of visitors, including specialists and buyers, and helped to create opportunities to connect with industry experts, suppliers, and sector leaders to foster partnerships and support business expansion in the Kingdom.

Visitors also participated in various events, including seminars, discussion panels, and forums, which provided valuable insights into the region’s economic landscape.

NEW DELHI: India has test-fired its first long-range hypersonic missile, the Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday, marking the country’s entry into a small group of nations known to possess such weapons programs.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation — an agency under the Ministry of Defense — conducted the test on Saturday night on Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha.

The missile, designed to carry payloads over 1,500 km, was “indigenously developed by the laboratories of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile complex, Hyderabad along with various other DRDO laboratories and industry partners,” the ministry said in a statement Sunday.

“The flight data obtained from down range ship stations confirmed the successful terminal maneuvers and impact with high degree of accuracy.”

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh took to social media to say the test was a “historic moment” that has put India country in the “group of select nations having capabilities of such critical and advanced military technologies.”

Hypersonic missiles can travel at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, or 6,115 km per hour — much faster than other ballistic and cruise missiles, making them more difficult to track than traditional missile technology.

The other countries known to have such capabilities are the US, China, and Russia.

Defense expert Ranjit Kumar told Arab News that the successful launch of the hypersonic missile has enhanced the deterrent capabilities of the Indian missile arsenal.

“(The) hypersonic missile will add more teeth to the Indian missile firepower. (The) Indian Armed Forces already possess over 300 km range (supersonic) Brahmos cruise missile and over 5,000 km range Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile, but the latest, over 1,500 km range hypersonic missile will ... give more confidence to the Indian military to be able to hit the target with sure success,” he said.

“At a time when India is surrounded with adversaries possessing long-range ballistic missiles, the latest hypersonic missile will deter them from launching a preemptive strike on Indian locations.”