Thailand keen on FTA to strengthen bilateral trade

Thailand is keen on concluding a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh to further strengthen bilateral trade and business between the two countries, said visiting Permanent Secretary-designate of Thailand, Sarun Charoensuwan, during a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

The Thai envoy also emphasised holding the Joint Commission Meeting between the two countries at a mutually convenient time at the earliest, read a press release issued by the foreign ministry.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is firmly committed to maintaining cordial and friendly relations with all neighbouring countries in the spirit of its cardinal foreign policy objective of "friendship to all, malice towards none."

He stressed the importance of forging a stronger and more effective regional collaboration by facilitating greater connectivity in the region.

Momen called for mutually beneficial initiatives and cooperation in order to harness the complementarities existing between the two economies.

He requested more Thai support and expertise to improve the tourism sector of Bangladesh, which is endowed with immense potential.

He also encouraged more Thai investment in the infrastructure development initiatives of Bangladesh, the agro-processing sector, the health and pharmaceutical sectors and more, to further deepen the economic relations between the two countries.

The foreign minister sought a more proactive role on the part of Thailand and other Asean countries in ensuring the expeditious and sustainable repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people sheltering in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds, to their homeland in Myanmar.

Dr Momen also requested the participation of the Thai foreign minister and deputy prime minister at the IORA Ministerial meeting in Dhaka next month.

On the milestone occasion of "50 Years of Diplomatic Ties between Bangladesh and Thailand," the dignitaries jointly unveiled a commemorative stamp and launched an e-Book at the event.