Thailand to join informal ministerial meeting

Thailand will be among 27 countries joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Informal Ministerial Gathering at Davos, Switzerland, on January 28.

Hosted after the World Economic Forum (WEF), economic ministers of the 27 countries are expected to discuss trade procedures in a follow-up to the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference in December.

From the 153 member countries, only 27 are selected based on their significant roles in trade negotiations, said Srirat Rastapana, director-general of Thailand's Trade Negotiations Department.

"The host, Switzerland, aims to turn this into a stage where ministers directly exchange opinions and make proposals in line with the Doha issues and others, which will concern global trade as a whole," she said.

Aside from Thailand, the other countries include the US, the European Union, China, India, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Representing Thailand is Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.