Thailand progressing towards ASEAN integration in 2015

Thailand's Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Srirat Ratapana, says Thailand has made significant progress moving towards the ASEAN Economic Community in terms of services and products, adding that Thai commodities will have to be recognised by global standards before the integration takes effect in 2015.

However, there are a few areas of trade in which the AEC integration cannot be materialised until steps are taken according to Thai laws, such as those involving custom taxes.

Mrs Srirat says foreign investment into ASEAN doubled from $37.9 billion in 2009 to $78.8 billion in 2010, mainly from European, Japanese and US investors.

UPDATE:

Yanyong Phuangrach
, the Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Commerce Ministry, discussed concerns about the competitiveness of Thai products, particularly rice and maize, after the formation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, with the Bangkok Post. He insisted that the cooperation will turn trade competitors into partners and avert price wars. However, on the liberalisation of trade, he said the Philippines and Indonesia still want to delay the imports of rice and sugar.

On trade facilitation, ASEAN agreed to extend the implementation of a pilot project on self-certification of rules of origin until October 2012. Fifty-two exporters from Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore have already participated in the scheme while Thailand will begin the project on 1 October.