BANGKOK: Thailand has called for speeding up free-trade talks with India, saying the key details of the long-awaited pact should be settled first, leaving minor contentious issues for later discussions.
Commerce minister Apiradi Tantraporn, who held talks with India's ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi yesterday, said, "The Thai side first wants to settle key details of the long-awaited free-trade pact, leaving minor contentious issues for later discussion."
She said both the countries have agreed to accelerate the completion of the Thai-India FTA after implementing the Early Harvest Programme back in 2004 covering 82 items.
"With disagreement on some topics, Thailand thinks both countries should finalise the agreement in some parts and continue negotiating on the remaining topics," she said.
The minister further said that Thai firms are keen to join India's Make in India, Smart Cities and Economic Corridor schemes as they see greater business opportunities amid the strong growth of Indian economy.
Thailand and India signed a framework agreement covering the liberalisation of trade in goods, services and investment on October 9, 2003.