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.