Thailand, Russia aim to boost bilateral trade to $10bn

BANGKOK, April 16 (TNA) – Thailand and Russia are set to hold a ministerial conference next week as part of their efforts to boost bilateral trade to 10 billion US dollars by 2019, a Thai minister said. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the Ministry will host the third meeting of Sub-Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Thailand and Russia at Dusit Thani hotel in the capital Bangkok on April 21. The minister continued that Thailand aims to reduce key trade barriers with Russia, which is its biggest trade partner in Eurasia with bilateral trade worth 2.355 billion US dollars in 2016. Thailand hopes to conduct a joint study on a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. In addition, Apiradi said the two countries will discuss to promote trade and investment, and expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, science, agriculture, and customs at the upcoming meeting, which could be a vital step to facilitate business operations and expand trade between the two countries. (TNA)