Thailand's Role in APEC

As one of the founding members of APEC, Thailand has played an active role in the organization and was honored to host the annual APEC Summit in 2003. Although categorized as a "developing economy" in APEC, Thailand has continued to progressively liberalize and facilitate its trade and investment regime with the strong belief that the benefits of liberalization will far outweigh those of protectionism.

Thailand remains committed to the APEC Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment by 2020. Thailand's individual action plans have been on target, which have seen the average tariff rate fall by over 30% since 1997. Thailand has also made vast progress in facilitating trade and investment in areas such as customs procedures, standards and conformance and mobility of business people, which is evident in the increasing flow of trade and investment across the border. Meeting the Bogor Goals is very important for Thailand, as doing so will help the Thai economy to integrate into the global economy. Thailand's progress towards the Bogor Goals has been reviewed on several occasions with satisfactory feedback - the next review is scheduled to take place in 2009. Thailand's individual action plan can be downloaded at www.apec-iap.org .

APEC provides Thailand with the opportunity to be at the forefront of international trade and investment and Thailand will continue to play an active role in this forum. Thailand's economic growth has certainly been assisted by rapid development in the region and from individual and collective interaction with other APEC member economies.

Coordinating Authorities for APEC in Thailand

The Bureau of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, Department of Trade Negotiations, is responsible for all trade and investment issues in APEC and is responsible for coordinating with other Thai authorities about issues undertaken by the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) and its sub-committees. Issues handled by the Department include: Support for the WTO, RTAs/FTAs issues, Trade Facilitation, Intellectual Property, E-Commerce, etc.

For information on APEC's trade and investment issues, please contact:

Bureau of Multilateral Trade Negotiations
Department of Trade Negotiations
Ministry of Commerce
44/100 Nonthaburi 1 Road
Nonthaburi 11000 Thailand
Tel: 662-5077495
Email: vichadap@dtn.go.th
Or visit the APEC Secretariat website at www.apec.org

In a similar manner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acts as the central coordinating authority for all other APEC matters in Thailand, except for trade and investment issues, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce. Thailand's APEC Senior Official (SOM) is represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For further information, please contact:

Department of International Economic Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
443 Sri Ayudhya Road
Payathai Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: 662-6435000
Email: apecdesk@mfa.go.th
Website: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/878.php

The 21st APEC Ministerial Meeting, 11-12 November 2009

- Joint Statement

-APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) Summary Of Retreat Session I

-Statement by APEC Leaders on A New Growth Paradigm For a Connected Asia-Pacific in the 21st Century

-2009 Leaders' Declaration - "Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region"