Thailand, Poland to boost bilateral trade to US$1b by 2018

POLAND, July 5 (TNA) - Thailand and Poland plan to increase the value of bilateral trade to reach one billion US dollars by 2018 and have agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in all dimensions, as well as partnership in the frameworks of Europe and ASEAN. Thai Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi told journalists of the plan and agreement on Friday, after a bilateral discussion between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Polish counterpart Donald Tusk in Warsaw, Poland's capital, on Thursday (local time) following an official welcome of the Thai leader at the Polish Prime Minister's office. Teerat acknowledged that both the Thai and Polish leaders also discussed further cooperation between the two countries in several areas, especially the establishment of mechanisms to facilitate cooperation on economic and military affairs, as well as cooperation between the Thai and Polish private sector. The spokesman said both leaders also agreed to increase the value of bilateral trade to about one billion US dollars by 2018, from 732.41 million US dollars currently. According to the spokesman, Thailand is Poland's second most important trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and both countries will further promote two-way trade of more product items. Besides, about 47,000 Polish tourists visit Thailand annually and their number has been on the rise. As Polish travelers are high quality tourists and Poland is Thailand's largest tourism market in Central Europe, the Thai Prime Minister also invited more Polish people to visit Thailand. After their discussion, the Thai and Polish Premiers presided over the signing of six cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. Premier Yingluck is visiting Poland and Turkey from July 3-6, aimed mainly to boost business ties and cooperation between Thailand and the two European nations. (TNA)