Sweeping trade pact with India this year

The government expects to conclude negotiations on a comprehensive economic agreement with India in the middle of this year, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said.

Yingluck, who visited New Delhi last month and was guest of honour at celebrations for India's Republic Day, said the agreement would deepen economic cooperation between the countries.

At present, Thailand and India have a limited free-trade agreement covering 84 items, but the new comprehensive agreement will cover more than 30,000 items concerning trade in goods and services as well as investment.