OECD DIALOGUE ON SERVICE SECTOR LIBERALIZATION

EABC Representatives led by Mr. Bob Fox (Chair Digital Economy/ICT Working Group), Mr. John Quarmby (Chair Transport & Logistics Working Group),  Mr. Chaladbhum Temkasem (EABC Executive Director) met with Dr. Stephen Thompson (Head of Investment Policy Reviews, Investment Division, OECD) on 25 September to provide perspectives and experience with service sector liberalization in Thailand.

Thailand has observer status with OECD but is not a member. OECD is engaged by the Royal Thai Government on four pillars (about 16 areas) under the Thailand Country Programme. While great benefits were derived some decades ago from liberalization of manufacturing, service sector liberalization has not enjoyed the same progress. EABC has recently made a submission to open up the Foreign Business Act (FBA) and discussed this with the Ministry of Commerce on 18 and 20 September. EABC recommends the removal from List 3 of the FBA of a number of current restrictions.  The limited scope of the 10th package under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services also signals a cautious approach to supporting competition in services.

At the 25 September meeting a wider view of the value of stimulating the service sector meant that impediments in addition to FBA restrictions such as barriers to carrying out certain professional activities were also covered.

EABC and OECD will maintain contact on this and other topics.