Exporters urged to use more ASEAN- India FTA privileges

BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) -- Thai exporters are urged to exercise more ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) privileges, said Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of Commerce Ministry’s Foreign Trade Department. The request is made after it is found that Thai exporters have not fully used ASEAN-India FTA privileges. According to Ms Duangporn, exporters exercised ASEAN-India FTA privileges for goods valued about 2.5 billion US dollars in 2015, up 13.39 per cent from 2014. The amount of privileges exercised last year equaled only 47.41 per cent, an increase from 46.74 per cent in 2014, she said. Two-way trade between Thailand and India in 2015 amounted approximately 7.8 billion US dollars, down 8.99 per cent from 2014. The kingdom enjoyed about 2.6 billion US dollars in trade surplus. In an attempt to boost trade relations between the two countries and to persuade Thai exporters to use more ASEAN-India FTA privileges, a seminar called ‘Insight into India’ will be organised at a Bangkok hotel on May 12, said Ms. Duangporn. (TNA)