Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

UAE and Thailand to launch Cepa talks this month

Thani Al Zeyoudi WAM
Minister of state for foreign trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said that these negotiations are important in cementing UAE’s role as a key global trade enabler

The UAE and Thailand are to launch negotiations to establish a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa), with the first round of negotiations starting on May 16 in the Emirates.

UAE minister of state for foreign trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the negotiations are a natural progression following the launch of the first UAE-Thai business council in February 2023, state-run WAM news agency said.

“Thailand is an increasingly important trade and investment partner for the UAE and a high-growth economy in the heart of a rapidly emerging region,” he said. “We believe a Cepa will deliver opportunity in sectors such as tourism, food security, IT, logistics and financial services.”

Thailand’s economy is the second largest in southeast Asia and is projected to grow 3.8 percent in 2023, driven by the rebound in the country’s vital tourism sector.

A UAE-Thailand Cepa will build on the rapidly increasing non-oil trade between the two nations, which increased by 21 percent to $6.1 billion in 2022.

The UAE’s principal exports to Thailand are ethylene polymers, gold, vegetable residues, delivery vehicles and parts, and electric batteries, with iron, steel and cosmetics as emerging sectors.

On the other hand, Thailand’s exports include office machinery and parts, motor vehicle parts, tires and aluminium plating.

The Cepa negotiations with Thailand are the latest under the UAE’s foreign trade agenda, which seeks to double its foreign trade and the national economy by 2031.

The UAE has so far concluded four Cepas with India, Israel, Indonesia and Turkey, and the first two have already come into force. The signing of the other two agreements will follow later.

The UAE is currently in talks with more markets at a regional and global level to establish similar agreements.

Latest articles

Gulf airlines, Gulf airlines conflict, Gulf conflict risk, Gulf flights cancelled rerouted

Conflict risk leads Gulf airlines to cancel regional routes

Gulf airlines are among airlines that have cancelled and rerouted flights across the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates. They are avoiding Iranian airspace and many have cancelled routes entirely following a major missile attack by Iran against Israel on Tuesday. Immediately after the attacks about 80 flights operated by carriers […]

Taaleem's schools offer 'exclusive educational experiences' including access to high-tech equipment profits

Dubai school operator Taaleem increases profit by 55%

Dubai school operator Taaleem has reported revenue of AED945.2 million ($257.3 million) for its 2023-24 financial year – a 15.5 percent year-on-year increase. More student enrolments and the opening of new schools helped Taaleem to increase net profit before tax by 55 percent, to AED182 million, in the financial year ending August. Taaleem’s shares were […]

Shein IPO

Mubadala-backed Shein courts investors before London IPO

Chinese fashion retailer Shein, which is backed by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, is courting European investors before an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. Shein is due to hold informal meetings to answer questions and test the investment appetite of major investors in the coming weeks, before its planned IPO […]

Workers stand on a scaffold in Dubai. Building a high rise in the UAE can be as much as two thirds cheaper than in other major cities

Apartments in UAE among cheapest to build in the world

Building a standard residential high-rise in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is up to two-thirds cheaper than in other major global cities, thanks to land, labour and raw materials all costing much less. Land is up to three times cheaper in the UAE compared with the prices paid in New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore […]