Thailand backs Apec FTA talks

Apiradi said Thailand also supported small and medium-sized enterprises through a variety of channels to help boost economic growth in the Kingdom and globally.
Thailand’s standing points were announced during the Apec Ministerial Meeting in Beijing last weekend. The Apec Leaders’ Summit will be held today.
Apiradi said member countries agreed to draw up the Beijing road map for Apec’s contribution to the realisation of the FTAAP. The members agreed that the road map should be completed by 2016, so that each member state could make a decision on whether to proceed with the negotiation, which is targeted to be finalised by 2020.
However, member states are also worried that the FTA of 21 countries poses some challenges, as many countries are involved and have a variety of interests. This FTA needs to be carefully analysed.
Meanwhile, the Apec countries also shared their common views that they needed to support the marathon multilateral talks under the WTO along with the FTAAP process.
At the Apec meeting this year, WTO’s director-general Roberto Azavedo also encouraged Apec nations to support the WTO talks. The WTO is scheduled to have a meeting late in 2015.
Thailand has supported all agreements, including multilateral talks, pluralism talks such as FTAAP, Asean+3 and Asean+6 agreements, and other bilateral agreements as it will strengthen economic growth of the country, region, and the world, said Apiradi. She added that besides supporting free-trade talks at all levels, Thailand also encouraged member countries to support SME development. Apiradi said Thailand also supported the Apec discussions on food security, anti-corruption, green economy and blue economy, which aims to preserve the environment not only on land, but also in the seas.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the Apec ministerial meeting, Hong Kong foresees Thai rice exports to the special administrative region increasing this year after falling for two years following the sharp rise in the price of Thai rice due to the subsidy programme of the previous government.
Without the price subsidy, the price of Thai rice has been more competitive, Apiradi said after a bilateral meeting with Hong Kong Trade and Economic Development Minister Gregory So.
The minister said that Hong Kong people still prefer Thai rice. Hong Kong rice traders will this week visit Thailand to see the Thai rice production process to reassure themselves about the quality of Thai rice.
Hong Kong has also encouraged Thailand to support the Asean-Hong Kong FTA negotiations, which is expected to be completed by 2016.
Meanwhile, Australia said that it will bring about 300 Australian enterprises to Thailand next year to seek business opportunities.