French-Thai private sectors ink cooperation pact

BANGKOK, July 4 (TNA) - The French and the Thai private sectors have concluded a new agreement on cooperation in trade and investment in line with the Thailand 4.0 policy. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees economic affairs, witnessed the signing of the agreement between the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), the largest employer federation in France, and Thailand's Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Bangking (JSCCIB), comprising the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industry (FTI) and the Thai Bankers Association (TBA) in Bangkok on July 3. Somkid told journalists that he has learned since his trip to France recently that French business operators are ready to relocate their investment projects to Thailand as soon as possible. The deputy premier said the expanding Thai economy and the more stable domestic political situation have boosted confidence in Thailand among French investors. According to the deputy prime minister, French business operators are interested in investing in Thailand's farm produce processing, infrastructure development, smart cities and alternative energy projects, including those to be opened in the Thai government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The deputy prime minister revealed that he plans to revisit France shortly to invite more European firms to invest in Thailand, where Chinese, Japanese and Korean firms have also expressed their readiness to expand their investment projects. (TNA)