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Thailand promotes free trade talks with Gulf nations

Thailand is accelerating free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Gulf nations to boost trade, tourism, and investment.

Nalinee Taveesin, Chair of the Thai Trade Representatives, holds talks with Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), at the GCC Secretariat. (Photo: Bangkok post)
Nalinee Taveesin, Chair of the Thai Trade Representatives, holds talks with Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), at the GCC Secretariat. (Photo: Bangkok post)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is accelerating free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Gulf nations to boost trade, tourism, and investment.

Nalinee Taveesin, Chair of the Thai Trade Representatives, highlighted the Gulf region as Thailand’s most important market in the Middle East. In 2023, trade between the two sides reached approximately 36 billion USD, with non-oil and natural gas trade rising nearly 10%.

On February 19, Nalinee met with Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to discuss strengthening bilateral ties. Both sides agreed to deepen collaboration in tourism, especially health tourism, food security, and soft power, areas where Thailand has strong expertise..

They also explored opportunities to advance FTA negotiations and establish a memorandum of understanding./.

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