Thai PM Meets Swiss Ambassador to Advance EFTA Trade Deal and Bilateral Ties
The Thai Prime Minister and the Swiss Ambassador discussed expanding bilateral cooperation across all dimensions, pushing forward the Thailand-EFTA free trade agreement and preparing to welcome the Swiss President.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- PM thanks outgoing Swiss Ambassador for strengthening bilateral relations.
- Pushing for Thailand-EFTA FTA and welcoming Swiss President in October.
- Switzerland fully supports Thailand's ongoing bid to join the OECD.
- Switzerland remains Thailand's top trading partner in Europe and EFTA.
The Prime Minister met with the Ambassador of Switzerland to express gratitude for the diplomat's pivotal role in fostering robust bilateral ties throughout their tenure. Both sides lauded the steady progress achieved across multiple sectors, notably the joint efforts to advance the Thailand-EFTA free trade agreement (encompassing Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), alongside science, technology, sustainable development, and education initiatives. Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to treating Switzerland as a vital strategic partner.
During the bilateral discussions, both leaders touched upon several key agendas, including ongoing high-level exchanges. The Thai side expressed readiness to welcome the President of the Swiss Confederation, who will visit Thailand in October to attend the annual IMF and World Bank meetings. This upcoming visit is expected to bolster leadership ties, expand economic and technological collaboration, and boost investor confidence, alongside an upcoming delegation of Swiss business leaders.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Regarding economic and investment partnerships, both sides welcomed continuous trade growth, noting that Switzerland stands as Thailand's leading trading partner within Europe and the EFTA bloc. The Swiss side expressed strong support for investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC and EECi), as well as collaborations in innovation, medical technology, advanced manufacturing, the BCG economy, and private-sector partnerships (B2B), alongside climate change mitigation knowledge sharing.
The free trade agreement with the EFTA bloc represents a strategic milestone for Thailand to secure preferential market access outside the European Union framework. Given that Switzerland is the largest trading partner from this group, deepening economic integration alongside Thailand's pursuit of OECD membership signals a strong regulatory and structural upgrade aimed at attracting high-value foreign direct investment.
Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the solid foundation built by both nations will serve as a enduring catalyst for expanding comprehensive cooperation between Thailand and Switzerland well into the future.
Source: Matichon Politics
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment