ID :
157266
Fri, 01/14/2011 - 18:58
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http://m.oananews.org//node/157266
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UNCTAD chief urges Thailand to advocate Asian cooperation
BANGKOK, Jan 14 (TNA) - Thailand has been urged to play leading roles in further promoting Asian cooperation on infrastructure development, farm produce and currency exchange solutions.
Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), made the call at a discussion forum on the readiness of the Thai private sector for the ASEAN Economic Community, global trade and comments on the Thai economy held in Bangkok on Friday (Jan 14).
The UNCTAD chief, who is a former Democrat deputy Thai premier, suggested that before the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is formed by 2015, six issues are to be settled to prevent disputes, including the common definition of non-tariff barriers, the reduction of tariffs on farm products to 0-5 per cent, the clarification of product origins, the establishment of a regional infrastructure development fund, mechanisms to resolve international trade disputes and clear guidelines for the liberalization of service trade in the region.
Supachai insisted that Thailand play leading roles in further promoting cooperation among Asian nations, especially through the establishment of the infrastructure development fund and agricultural integration, and that Southeast Asian nations join forces to increase their bargaining power on foreign exchange rates.
According to the UNCTAD secretary-general, Asian countries can raise a fund with countries in other regions which are also affected by the depreciation of the US dollar. Supachai predicted that foreign exchange problems will remain serious this year, recommending Asian economies to reduce their reliance on exports by integrating their markets covering over 600 million consumers to compete with the immense Chinese and Indian economies with combined consumers of more than two billion. (TNA)
Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), made the call at a discussion forum on the readiness of the Thai private sector for the ASEAN Economic Community, global trade and comments on the Thai economy held in Bangkok on Friday (Jan 14).
The UNCTAD chief, who is a former Democrat deputy Thai premier, suggested that before the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is formed by 2015, six issues are to be settled to prevent disputes, including the common definition of non-tariff barriers, the reduction of tariffs on farm products to 0-5 per cent, the clarification of product origins, the establishment of a regional infrastructure development fund, mechanisms to resolve international trade disputes and clear guidelines for the liberalization of service trade in the region.
Supachai insisted that Thailand play leading roles in further promoting cooperation among Asian nations, especially through the establishment of the infrastructure development fund and agricultural integration, and that Southeast Asian nations join forces to increase their bargaining power on foreign exchange rates.
According to the UNCTAD secretary-general, Asian countries can raise a fund with countries in other regions which are also affected by the depreciation of the US dollar. Supachai predicted that foreign exchange problems will remain serious this year, recommending Asian economies to reduce their reliance on exports by integrating their markets covering over 600 million consumers to compete with the immense Chinese and Indian economies with combined consumers of more than two billion. (TNA)
