Thailand is on course to open its fisheries sector to Asean investment ahead of planned market liberalizations.
But only investments that utilize high technologies and have a minimal impact on local communities will be considered, said Wimol Jantrarotai, director-general of the Fisheries Department.
“The farming of lobsters and sea cage aquaculture, for instance, are categories that we would offer” to foreign investors, he said during a seminar held to prepare officials in the department for the establishment of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2105.
Under AEC, a single regional common market will be created by 2015 and will include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The free flow of goods, services, investment capital and skilled labour are expected following the liberalization.
