Bangladesh and Thailand have set their sights on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2024, according to a joint announcement following a meeting in Bangkok on 26 April, 2024.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, at the joint press conference, said, “Thailand and Bangladesh are committed to working together towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).”
He was hopeful that a Letter of Intent would help to expedite the negotiation process.
This initiative comes alongside several other collaborative efforts signed by both countries. These include:
- Visa exemptions for government officials to ease communication and travel.
- Exploration of energy cooperation.
- Knowledge sharing in tourism to leverage Thailand’s expertise in the sector.
- Cooperation on customs matters for smoother trade processes.
The two nations signed three Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) and a Letter of Intent (LOI) in presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok, following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at Government House (Thai Prime Minister’s Office) here.
