Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that the government plans to establish free-trade agreements with all European Union member states this year. She made this statement upon her return to Thailand on Saturday after attending the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
On January 23, Ms. Paetongtarn participated in the signing ceremony of a free-trade agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) during the WEF. The agreement was signed by representatives from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein on behalf of the EFTA states.
This FTA marks the first one signed by the current government and aims to strengthen economic ties between Thailand and EFTA countries while fostering collaboration in advanced technology, human capital development, support for SMEs, and sustainable development.
The Prime Minister expressed that the government is also working towards signing FTAs with other EU member countries by the end of the year to help Thai businesses gain a foothold in the EU market. “[Signing the FTA with the EFTA member countries] is a success for Thailand. All cabinet ministers in the delegation were proud to sign the agreement,” she stated.
During her visit, she met with foreign investors to discuss opportunities in emerging industries such as semiconductors, data centers, and green energy. She encouraged these companies to assist in upskilling Thai workers to adapt to advanced technologies if they choose to establish production facilities in Thailand.
Ms. Paetongtarn highlighted Google’s new cloud data center in Chon Buri as part of its expansion in Thailand, noting that Google will also help in upskilling the local workforce.
On the topic of the 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject, she mentioned that Dubai-based global supply chain and logistics giant DP World is expected to be a significant investor in the initiative.
Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub noted that Ms. Paetongtarn engaged with high-ranking executives from leading global firms at the 55th WEF in Switzerland. A key discussion was with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World, who expressed strong interest in enhancing Thailand’s logistics capabilities, including the expansion of the Inland Container Depot (ICD) and potential investments in the Land Bridge project, which aims to connect ASEAN with global trade networks.
Ms. Paetongtarn emphasized that the WEF allowed Thailand to showcase its potential and opportunities to the international community, reassuring foreign investors that Thailand is well-prepared.
