Thailand is moving closer to concluding a free-trade agreement with four non-EU countries — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein — under the banner of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Pimchanok Pitfield, Thailand’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), held informal talks on Thursday with Helene Budliger Artieda, director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, to discuss the ongoing negotiations, said the Department of International Trade Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce.
Following the meeting, Ms Pimchanok appeared optimistic that the negotiations would be concluded on by the end of this year, the statement said.
Ms Pimchanok also urged the Swiss side to heighten trade and investment cooperation with Thailand, for the sake of both nations’ mutual economic benefit.
Now that Thailand is gearing up for more transport infrastructure development, the country encourages Switzerland and other nations in the EFTA to invest in these projects, she added. These European countries have expertise in advanced technology that could benefit Thailand.