Thailand is trying to build business links and trade pacts with Pacific Island nations to feed its growing industrial sector with raw materials and energy.

The Pacific region is becoming more important as raw materials around the world become scarce and Asia develops as the engine room of the world economy.

In April, Britain announced plans to renew relations with the Pacific and China has also been spending big in the region to gain influence.

Maris Sangiampongsa is Thailand's Ambassador for Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji.

He says trade links to Pacific nations are potentially critical for the future of his nation's economy.

"We need raw materials and energy because Thailand is now in the developing stage," he said.

"We have a very good position in terms of manufacturing structure good skill level.

"But we are now looking outside the country for raw materials and energy."

Mr Sangiapongsa says in the past year Thailand's economy has grown by 5%.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra recently returned from a trip to PNG - which has a rich source of raw materials - to discuss increased trade to keep that growth going.

Mr Sangiampongsa says Vanuatu is also a good source of future trade and cooperation that could benefit both nations.

"The first is agriculture, which includes fisheries and forestry.

"Especially tuna in Vanuatu."

In order to secure the trade of raw materials Thailand is offering expertise to help Pacific nations develop their own industries and increase factory capacity.

"We are not in the stage to take advantage of a small country.

"But the Government of Thailand is aiming to give a lot of technical assistance to countries like Vanuatu in order to work together to the benefit of both countries."

Thailand however is a late developer when compared to other Asian economies.

Economic powerhouses such as China, South Korea and Japan have already made inroads in the Pacific.

And European nations like France and Britain also have firm and long held trade and cultural links to the region.

"But we believe that we have some kind of advantage." Mr Sangiapongsa said.

"We have cheap labour to produce cheaper products from Thailand to help us penetrate the market."