​Valiollah Afkhami-Rad, the director of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO), said relationships between Iran and Thailand should move from normal agreements towards Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA).Afkhami-Rad said this in the Seminar on Trade and Investment Opportunities between Islamic Republic of Iran and Kingdom of Thailand. “Today, the two sides signed a trade agreement which contributes to the facilitation of bilateral trade. However, bilateral trade between the two countries needs to go beyond this so as to pave the way for preferential and free trade agreements,” Afkhami-Rad made the remark. Among key officials participating in the seminar were Mohsen Jalalpour, the chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister SomkidJatusripitak. The TPO director further said the signing of the nuclear accord between Iran and the 5+1 group of countries has opened a new chapter in Iran’s trade ties with the whole world, adding the 21st century is the century of using democracy and peaceful methods to achieve goals of common interest, through which Iran could prove its rightfulness to the world. Referring to Iran’s economic policy on the expansion of its ties with the world in general and neighboring countries in particular, Afkhami-Rad highlighted that Iran is ready to cooperate with Thai partners in different industrial and trade fields and joint investment.  Additionally, Afkhami-Rad called Iran and Thailand two countries of importance and clout, emphasizing that Iran as a key member of ECO (the Economic Cooperation Organization) and an influential country in the Middle East and Thailand as an important member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can use their capacities to expand their interregional ties. “The two countries’ trade promotion organizations play an important role in materializingcommon economic and trade goals. In this regard, all trade obstacles between the two countries should be identified and solutions should be put forwards to facilitate trade between Iranian and Thai partners,” Afkhami-Rad said in the seminar.  The official also recommended the officials of the two country to focus on Preferential Trade Agreement and Free Trade Agreement. ************Marginal trade between Iran and ThailandThe next speaker of the seminar was Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister SomkidJatusripitak, who criticized Iran-Thailand trade ties, saying although Iran is an influential and constructive player in political and economic fields in the Middle East and Western Asia and Thailand is the second biggest economy in in the ASEAN region, the two countries have failed to develop strong bilateral trade with each other. Among likely area for bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the Thai official referred to information technology and telecommunication, nanotechnology, advanced sciences, tourism, international trade and business, energy, renewable energy, and education. According to SomkidJatusripitak, there have been trade relationships between Iran and Thailand from the 7th century on. “To help expand bilateral trade volume between the two countries, the two sides need to make companies competitive and adopt policies which support the private sector,” he added. ***************Only 10% of the two countries’ trade is accounted for by bilateral tiesThe third speaker of the seminar was Mohsen Jalalpour, the chairman of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA). According to Jalalpour, Iran, with an import turnover of more than $80 billion and Thailand, with an export-import turnover of $200 billion, account for only 10 percent to 15 percent of each other’s trade volumes. “The numbers show that there has not been enough trade and economic relationship between the two countries. However, now the trade gate between the two countries is open, which needs to be used in the best possible way,” Jalalpour said. Referring to possible trade opportunities between the two countries, Jalalpour said Iran has countless capacities and is located in a geo-strategical situation, making it possible for Iranian brands to be available in the neighboring and CIS countries.  Jalalpour also emphasized joint production by Iran and Thailand, saying time is ripe for the two countries to make up for meager bilateral trade between the two countries through joint production and participation in joint markets, which is dependent on bilateral cooperation. Seeing the visit to Iran of Thai officials as a positive step taken by the country to expand trade with Iran, Jalalpour expressed ICCIMA’s commitment to communicate better with Iranian and Thai partners. According to the public relations office of TPO, the seminar was held at the Persian Gulf Hall of organization with state and private sector representatives in attendance. Also, one day before the seminar Thai Commerce Minister ApiradiTantrapornand Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mohammad Reza Ne’matzadeh signed a trade agreement. The agreement aims to facilitatebilateral trade between the two countries through the exchange of trade delegations, stronger ties between chambers of commerce, and finally, cooperation in the fields of exhibitions, hygiene, and reduction of trade tariffs.  Already on January 23-24, 2016, Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai and Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mohammad Reza Ne’matzadeh attended the 9th meeting of Iran-Thailand Joint Economic Commission.