Asia, Europe find differences

Asia, Europe find differences

BANGKOK (AFP): Asian and European representatives from the public and private sectors of 25 countries have sketched out the priorities for a plan to promote investment between the two regions, Thai officials said yesterday.

"We have begun to inject lifeblood into the veins of the first Asia-Europe Investment Promotion Action Plan," Thai Board of Investment (BOI) chairman Staporn Kavitanon said at the close of a two-day working group meeting here.

Two areas -- policies and regulations, and promotional activities -- would lead the way in the formation of the plan, BOI Vice-Chairman Narongchai Akrasanee told a news conference.

"Liberalization, government policies, rules and regulations, transparency and binding commitments are what Europeans consider very important. Promotional activities are what Asians consider very important," Narongchai said.

An agreement was reached to include action on investment- related issues such as standards and certification, financial support, technology transfer, skills development and the environment within the plan, the BOI said in a statement.