Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin aims to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union within 18 months, with negotiations restarting after a decade-long delay.
Key Takeaways
- Thailand aims to finalize a free trade agreement with the European Union within 18 months, which would further strengthen their economic relationship.
- Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is actively promoting trade and investment during his global tour, focusing on boosting investors’ confidence in Thailand.
- The government’s economic revival plan includes attracting 40 million international travelers this year and seeking a visa-free agreement with European countries in the EU’s Schengen area.
The FTA would expand economic ties between the two, with Thailand exporting $21.8 billion worth of goods to the EU last year. Srettha is also focusing on trade and investment during a global tour, meeting with French and German firms to explore business opportunities.
Additionally, he plans to seek a visa-free agreement with the EU’s Schengen area and aims to revive Thailand’s economy through various stimulus packages, including a “digital wallet” scheme.
The government aims to attract 40 million international travelers this year, including 8.5 million from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, in a bid to revitalize the tourism sector, which has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
