Trade Volume Between Malaysia And Thailand To Grow By 15 Pct

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) – Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce believes that the trade volume between the kingdom and Malaysia is poised to further expand by at least 15 per cent in 2018. This was relayed in a statement Wednesday by Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, which is under the ministry. “ASEAN member countries are required to work harder and closer with their counterparts to get more mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) signed to support the liberalisation and facilitation of trade in both goods and services,” she said. Chantira said among the Thai products that Malaysian businesses could be interested in were foodstuff, leather products, plastics and environmentally-friendly packaging as these were among the products that caught their attention at the Top Thai Brands 2018 exhibition held from Aug 9 to 12 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The exhibition concluded with trade deals worth an estimated RM9 million and generated 232 business matches between Thai and Malaysian companies. The event, which attracted over 4,000 visitors, featured 70 exhibitors promoting quality Thai brands in seven product categories, namely food and beverage, wellness , packaging, household products, fashion accessories, kids’ products and pet products. During the event, Malaysia’s Minister of International Trade and Industry, Darell Leiking and the Thai Minister of Commerce, Apiradi Tantraporn also held a discussion on facilitating trade between the two countries, particularly border trade. Among the issues raised were finding ways to reduce the non-tariff barriers through the mechanism of a Joint Trade Committee which is scheduled to meet before the year-end, cooperation between the two countries on palm oil and durian exports, and Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new ASEAN car initiative. -- BERNAMA