Thailand views free trade as vital to boosting investment in Asia
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addressed Nikkei’s Future of Asia Forum in Tokyo on May 24, describing free trade as vital to boosting investment in Asia.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin speaks at the Future of Asia forum in Tokyo on May 24, 2024. Photo courtesy of asia.nikkei.com.
Negotiations on free trade agreements (FTAs) should be a top priority, Srettha remarked, noting that Thailand has 15 FTAs with 19 countries, and talks on seven more are underway, including with the European Union.
Since taking office last year, Srettha has travelled widely to drum up trade and investment for Thailand. Before arriving in Tokyo for the forum, he had visited France and Italy.
He held that Asia should continue to support the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core.
According to him, green transition and digitisation are also key elements for the regional cooperation. Thailand is seeking more investment in green hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technology, as well as to expand carbon credit markets, the PM went on.
Srettha added Thailand is determined to build the business ecosystem and enhance its global competitiveness for investment. It has submitted a letter of intent to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
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