Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Monday, 9 January 2023 00:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Thailand Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations Auramon Supthaweethum (left) on her arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday received by Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka Poj Harnpol (right)
Talks of free trade are returning with Sri Lanka and Thailand today kicking off the third round of negotiations on the proposed FTA between the two friendly countries.
A 26-member official delegation headed by Thailand Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations Auramon Supthawe-ethum arrived from Bangkok yesterday.
The two-day talks will focus on seven themes: trade in goods, trade in services, investments, rules of origin, custom cooperation, trade facilitation, and economic cooperation will be the focus of the negotiations.
The negotiations take place against the backdrop of a significant trade balance in Thailand’s favour. In 2021, Sri Lanka imported goods from Thailand worth $ 355 million, but only sent $ 59 million to Thailand.
From the perspective of Sri Lanka, the negotiations will be aimed at enhancing access to exports not only in the Thai market but also in markets in other ASEAN countries through Thailand’s gateway and lowering current non-tariff trade obstacles to trade.
The President’s Media Office said according to market potential assessments, Sri Lankan exports of precious stones, black tea, and other goods have a lot of promise. Sri Lanka is hopeful that via successful discussions, doors can be created to offer opportunities in both the new industries and for the two nations’ current trade frameworks.
The National Trade Negotiating Committee (NTNC), whose members primarily represent the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, the Department of Trade and Investment Policy of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce, will participate in the negotiations on behalf of Sri Lanka under the leadership of Chief Negotiator and former Director General of Department of Commerce K.J. Weerasinghe and the Presidential Secretariat.
In the first quarter of 2024, the Government plans to put this agreement into operation. The NTNC will give the specific requests made by the regional business associations/chambers considerable consideration during the negotiations.
The Government’s objective of entering the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which represents 30% of the global population and economy, will be advanced by this agreement. Since trade is a growth tool that is relevant to both countries, the Government of Sri Lanka is eager to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Thailand.
Thailand and Sri Lanka have formal diplomatic relations that date back 68 years, and Thailand’s economy was especially boosted by the rapid growth of manufactured exports, the President’s Media said.
