Thai –Bhutanese trade talks

BANGKOK, Aug 31 (TNA) – Thailand on Thursday hosted the second Thailand- Bhutan joint trade talks in Bangkok as both countries agreed to double trade values within five years. Bhutan’s Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Lekey Dorji led delegates to attend trade talks with Thailand said Bhutan is implementing the new national economic development plan, focusing on attracting foreign investment, particularly from Thailand, which is keen on agricultural products processing, construction industry and tourism services, said Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn. Bhutan established four industrial estates at India-Bhutan border, which will benefit Thai investors to export goods from these industrial estates in Bhutan to India from using privileges in tax exemption. The Thai commerce ministry will discuss this issues with the Board of Investment to support Thai businesspeople to invest in Bhutan, said Ms Apiradi. The two countries agreed during today’s meeting to double bilateral trade to US$50 million within the next five years. In the first seven months of this year, the two countries’ trade values were recorded at US$24 million and it is expected to reach US$30 million by the end of this year. (TNA)