EU to expand investment in Thailand

BANGKOK, Sept 7 (TNA) -- European investors are keen to invest in Thailand, especially in its Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), as China and Japan have explored opportunities in the region. European executives in the Europe-ASEAN Business Alliance (EABA) discussed European investment opportunities in Thailand with Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana. They inquired about the EEC and possibility to realize a Thai-European free trade agreement. Mr Somkid said that the European delegation also asked about the possible roles of European investors in the ASEAN Summit next year. The summit would include a CEO forum and Thailand would invite CEOs of conglomerates to share their view, the deputy prime minister said. Industry Minister Uttama said executives of 15 large-scaled European companies were in the meeting with Mr Somkid. Kaspersky expressed intention to invest in cybersecurity in the EEC and Thailand proposed it develop Thai personnel so that Thailand would become the cybersecurity centre for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, Mr Uttama said. Meanwhile, Roche Co intended to invest in biomedicine and ABN AMRO Group wanted Thailand to become its centre to expand financial services in the region, the minister said. European investors were keen to invest in the EEC as China and Japan were actively investing there. In Thailand, Europe was the third biggest investor after China and Japan, Mr Uttama said. (TNA)