AFTA hotline receives good feedback

BANGKOK, 24 January 2010 (NNT) – A number of business entrepreneurs have been calling hotline 1385 to enquire information regarding the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) after the hotline has been in operation since 8 January 2010.

According to Foreign Trade Department Director-General Vichak Visetnoi, interested entrepreneurs have been calling the hotline continuously. The most-frequently-asked questions are on agricultural goods affected by AFTA and the WTO. Others are asking about rice, palm, palm oil, and sugar as well as goods on the sensitive list such as coffee and tapioca.

Mr Vichak added that more than 80% of the hotline users were satisfied with the service. The hotline has been set up by the department to answer questions of people about effects from AFTA which has been effective since 1 January this year.

The AFTA tariff reduction to 0% covers more than 8,000 types of goods while some of the goods have their tariff rates reduced earlier. Concerns have persisted over Thai agricultural produce which is affected the most from the regional trade agreement.