Recently, a significant meeting took place between Nalinee Taveesin, Thailand’s International Trade Representative, and Serap Ersoy, Turkey’s Ambassador to Thailand. Following their discourse on Tuesday, Taveesin reported to the press that a formal invitation had been extended to Srettha for making an official visit to Turkey, an event that hasn’t seen the light of day for over two decades.
Ersoy, expressing her gratitude towards the Thai Royal Family, Government, NGOs and fellow citizens for their generous help to the Turkish citizens post the seismic disaster in February, also hinted at her urge to resume the longstanding free-trade talks. This was echoed by Nalinee as well, who said that Thailand and Turkey had already reached a general agreement to establish a bilateral free-trade zone.
She shared that seven rounds of talks concerning the FTA had already taken place, but they encountered a disruption in 2021 due to certain internal issues. Nevertheless, Nalinee reassured that Thailand is willing to resume the discussions as soon as Turkey completes its review of government policies. Ersoy, on her part, mentioned that by the dawn of the coming year, Turkey should be readying its framework to hold these consequential FTA talks with Thailand.
Both nation’s representatives echoed the belief that the FTA agreement would positively boost bilateral trade, tourism, and various industrial sectors. Ersoy underscored that the two nations have harbored a long and pleasant relationship, marking 65 years of cordial diplomatic ties in the present year.
As the world’s 19th largest economy, Turkey presents a market with a high purchasing capacity. Nalinee emphasized how Thailand could utilize Turkey as a strategic trade bridge to access Eastern European and Balkan Peninsula markets, as well as those in Northern Africa. This critical geographical advantage stems from Turkey being a transcontinental country, primarily situated on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a portion set in the Southeast European region in the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by several nations including Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest, and countries like Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Syria along other directions, with the Black Sea to the North and the Mediterranean Sea on the southwest side.
FTAs with Turkey can prove fruitful for a host of Thai products including vehicles, refrigerators, textiles, seeds, Halal foods, fruits, electrical appliances, plastic pellets, and auto parts, stated Nalinee.
She further mentioned that Turkey could take Thailand as a significant gateway to step into East Asian and Asean nations, as well as countries having an FTA with Asean, and the constituents of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Nalinee mentioned her belief in Turkey’s interest in investing in the Eastern Economic Corridor, thereby marking Thailand as their production base for exports to other Asean countries.
Several Thai companies have already established their presence in Turkey such as CPF, Indorama, and Dusit Thani, and Turkish companies like KOC Holding, HidroMex, and Sabanci Holding have done the same in Thailand.
Several direct weekly flights active between the two nations by both Turkish Airlines and Thai International Airlines only make this interaction and collaboration more seamless.
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