Thailand Advances Free Trade Talks with Gulf Nations

Thailand is accelerating negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Gulf countries to enhance trade, tourism, and investment ties. According to Thai Trade Representative Chairwoman Nalinee, the Gulf region is Thailand's most significant market in the Middle East, with bilateral trade reaching $36 billion last year. Non-oil and gas trade grew nearly 10% and continues to show a positive trend.

Recently, Nalinee met with Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), at the GCC Secretariat, where both parties agreed on the importance of fostering closer relations across multiple sectors. Nalinee proposed a focus on tourism cooperation, particularly in health tourism, food security, and soft power, where Thailand has strong expertise. The discussions also explored opportunities for an FTA and the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

As part of the visit, Nalinee led a Thai delegation to meet with Othaim, Saudi Arabia's largest supermarket chain, which expressed strong interest in Thai products. The company highlighted growing demand for imported goods, particularly ready-to-eat meals, corn, and tuna. Additionally, the delegation met with a Saudi food and ingredients distributor, emphasizing the rising demand for nuts and instant noodles, presenting a key opportunity to expand Thai food exports to Saudi Arabia.