The ministry will conduct a second session of the subcommittee on trade-related matters between Thailand and Sri Lanka in Bangkok on Friday, at which trade and investment between the countries will be discussed, he said. 
&ldquo;Sri Lanka is a gateway for trade and investment in South Asia, offering a challenge for Thailand to export products to Sri Lanka and also to other countries in South Asia via Sri Lanka,&rdquo; he added. 
Sri Lanka ranks fourth for Thailand in terms of bilateral trade value with South Asian markets, behind India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.&nbsp; 
From 2012 to 2016, trade between the two countries averaged just over $500.2 million annually, although last year&rsquo;s total declined to around $440 million.

Ministry sets goal of $1.5 billion for Thai-Sri Lankan trade in 2020

The Commerce Ministry targets bilateral trade between Thailand and Sri Lanka reaching US$1.5 billion (Bt51.2 billion) in 2020, Trade Negotiations Department director-general Boonyarit Kalayanamit said on Tuesday.