Thai-Sino businesses targeted to grow 15% annually

BANGKOK, April 5 (TNA) - Thai and Chinese business operators have agreed to expand their cooperation in trade, investment and tourism-related businesses so that they grow by some 15 per cent annually on average over the next three years. The agreement was reached at the Thai-Chinese Business Forum 2013, which kicked start in Bangkok on Friday morning and attended by Thai and Chinese business delegations. Thai Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk, who inaugurated the forum, together with President of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association Phinit Jarusombat and the chief of an association of outstanding Chinese business operators worldwide, acknowledged that trade, investment and tourism between Thailand and China have steadily grown and both sides have, thus, targeted that two-way trade, investment and tourism should further expand by 20 per cent, 15 per cent and 15 per cent a year respectively from 2012-2016. Phinit, meanwhile, predicted that two-way trade between Thailand and China should reach 100 billion US dollars by 2014, when Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand should also increase to five million, from two million annually now. (TNA)