Thailand, Sri Lanka FTA negotiations to conclude this year

Thailand and Sri Lanka plan to conclude negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of this year, with the pact scheduled for signature in early February 2024, says the chief of trade negotiations of Thailand.

Chotima lemsawasdikul, Director- General of the Thailand’s Trade Negotiations Department, said Thai and Sri Lankan officials are slated to meet Nov 27-29 this year for the eighth round of FTA talks, with Thailand hosting the discussions, the Bangkok Post reported.

The negotiations aim to reach a substantial conclusion, with another round of talks in December hosted by Sri Lanka, she said. Chotima said a final round of negotiations hosted by Sri Lanka is slated for January, aligning with the goal set earlier for a FTA signing on Feb 3, 2024, coinciding with the anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence.

The FTA signing is likely to take place in Sri Lanka, she said.Despite Sri Lanka’s relatively small size and population of only 22 million, studies by the department found the country holds an important geographic position in the Indian Ocean, making it a hub for maritime transport, the report said. (Bangkok Post)

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