Thailand, Turkey expect to seal free trade agreement next year

NONTHABURI, July 16 (TNA) -- Thailand and Turkey announced to start their free trade agreement negotiation on July 19 and expect to seal it within late next year. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said she would visit Ankara to co-launch the negotiation process with her Turkish counterpart on July 19. According to Ms Apiradi, Turkey has a population of about 80 million and has good ties with other Muslim countries in the Middle East. About 30 million of its population visit other countries yearly and its economy is the world’s 19th biggest. Turkey can link Asia and Europe. She hopes Turkey can be Thailand’s gateway to Eastern Europe, Balkans and North Africa. She said Thailand was ready to be Turkey’s gateway to Southeast Asia. The first round of the free trade negotiation was set on July 19 and 20. Both sides will discuss the outline of the agreement, panels to consider details, information exchange, negotiation plans and expectations, and goals for each round of the negotiation. Mrs Apiradi said that both sides expected the negotiation could be concluded by late next year. The deal should increase Thailand’s gross domestic product by 0.03-0.04% (US$74-99 million) and export by 0.03-0.05% (US$50-90 million), she said. The agreement should benefit Thai automobiles, refrigerators, polystyrene, garments, halal food, seeds, chemical products, plastics, plastic products, rubber, rubber products, electrical appliances, electronic products, machinery, and auto parts. Last year Turkey was Thailand’s 35th biggest trading partner worldwide and the 4th biggest in the Middle East. (TNA)