World

Thailand to speed up FTA negotiations

Thai Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit on August 7 pledged to speed up negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreement (FTAs), including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the EU-Thailand FTA.
Thailand to speed up FTA negotiations ảnh 1Thai Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit (R) (Source: VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit on August7 pledged to speed up negotiations on bilateral and regional free tradeagreement (FTAs), including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) and the EU-Thailand FTA.

He affirmed thataccelerating FTA negotiations is one of the top priorities of the commerceministry, stressing those on the RCEP need to be completed within this year sothat the pact can be ratified by the middle of next year.

The next target is torestart the Thai-EU FTA that has been stalled for years because of politicalproblems, he said, adding that FTA negotiations between Thailand and the EU,the country’s third-largest trading partner, have been put on hold for aboutfive years.

Jurin also revealed hehad assigned the officials involved to study the pros and cons of joining theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a newlyformed bloc of 11 Pacific Rim nations excluding the US.

The commerce ministrywill also give priority to other issues, such as ensuring income for farmers inthe fields of palm oil, rubber, rice, tapioca and corn; stepping up the exportof farm products, garments, gems and jewellery; and developing service businesssuch as restaurants, spas and elderly care.-VNA
VNA
#Thai Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit#FTA negotiations#RCEP#FTA#Thailand#Vietnam#Vietnamplus#Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Thai government approves fiscal 2020 budget

Thai government approves fiscal 2020 budget

The Thai cabinet has endorsed a budget of 3.2 trillion baht (about 104 billion USD) for fiscal year 2020, up 6.7 percent from fiscal 2019, which ends on September 30.

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.