The Ministry of Commerce is accelerating the closing of the Thailand-South Korea FTA deal, pushing for economic cooperation and paving the way for future technology investment.

The Minister of Commerce held talks with the South Korean Ambassador, who agreed to advance Thailand-South Korea's CEPA negotiations to a concrete progression, elevating them to a "comprehensive strategic partnership." He also invited leading investment groups from Seoul to use Thailand as a key production base in the region, amid trade and investment growth exceeding US$15,300 billion last year.

November 16, 2568 – Ms. Suphajee Suthumpun, Minister of Commerce It was revealed after a meeting with Mr. Park Yong-min, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Thailand, that Thailand and South Korea agreed to jointly promote negotiations. “Thailand-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)” To be faster and more efficient in order to strengthen the framework of economic, trade and investment cooperation and move towards the status of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in the next phase.

The CEPA will expand cooperation beyond the existing FTAs ​​between Thailand and South Korea, aligning with the rapidly changing and complex global economic context. Both sides therefore seek a "win-win" outcome that supports new production chains and builds mutual competitiveness over the long term.

Thailand has also invited South Korean investors, particularly those in the emerging automotive, clean energy, digital, and creative industries, to invest further in Thailand, aiming to establish Thailand as a key regional production base and a part of South Korea's global production chain.

Currently, there are more than 400 South Korean investors operating in Thailand, including Hyundai and COSMAX, a leading South Korean cosmetics company, which has requested the Thai government to continuously support and facilitate their investments.

The Minister of Commerce reiterated that the Thai government is moving forward with improving regulations to be more transparent and conducive to investment, and has clearly expressed its intention to join the OECD. He also thanked South Korea for its support in Thailand's process.

According to trade statistics for 2024, South Korea is Thailand's 13th largest trading partner, with a total trade value of US$15.3 billion, comprising US$5,957 billion in exports and US$9,343 billion in imports. For the first nine months of 2025 (January-September), total trade was US$11,685 billion, with Thailand exporting US$4,435 billion and importing US$7.25 billion.

โดย Important export products These include rubber products, sugar, aluminum, electrical circuits, and refined oil. The main imported products include electrical circuits, steel and products, chemicals, machinery, and electrical machinery.

"This discussion is therefore seen as an important step in accelerating the CEPA agreement to build confidence, attract investment from global technology leaders, and enhance the potential of the Thai economy in the highly competitive East Asian region."

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