Commerce plans meeting with private sector on trade under AEC
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The Commerce Ministry is scheduled to meet with private enterprises to draw up plans for increasing exports to neighbouring countries once the Asean Economic Community (AEC) is established in a couple of years.
Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan said the ministry would work more closely with private enterprises that have already experienced cross-border trade.
“The promotion of trade and investment in neighbouring countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, will be highlighted in the next few years to ensure that Thai enterprises can survive under the Asean integration,” Niwatthumrong said.
Obstructions in focus
The meeting with the private sector will be held in a border province – Chiang Rai in the North. It will focus osn the obstructions Thai enterprises have faced while trading with neighbouring countries.
The ministry will also emphasise more investment by small and medium-sized enterprises in those countries.
Thailand and Laos have agreed to boost bilateral trade to US$8 billion (Bt250 billion) by 2015, the year the AEC takes effect. Thailand will encourage more investors to set up businesses in Laos to establish that country as a manufacturing base for export to third countries.
Thailand will also help Laos increase its knowledge about farming and developing agricultural products.
Last year, bilateral trade with Laos was worth $4.84 billion, up by 24.37 per cent from 2011.
