AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND 
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC 
ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION

	The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Slovak Republic, hereafter referred to as “the Parties”; 

	Inspired by the traditional links of friendship and the cordial relations, which exist between them; 
	Desirous of developing and intensifying their economic, industrial, technical and technological cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit;
	Conscious of the necessity of existence of an adequate legal network for Slovak-Thai relations in accordance with the applicable legislation and regulations in the two countries, respectively; 
	
	Have agreed as follows:  

ARTICLE   I
Objectives

The Parties agree that the objectives of the Agreement, in accordance with laws and regulations in force in each country, are to: 
1.	Promote the activities of respective sectors in endeavours to increase bilateral economic, industrial, technical and technological cooperation;
2.	Support and develop business contacts and related opportunities;
3.	Facilitate the expansion of bilateral investment and the identification of economic and investment opportunities in their respective countries; 
4.	Encourage cooperation in areas of mutual interest, especially finance, banking, and activities related to economic and social development; and 
5.	Reinforce development cooperation for the overall enhancement of the economic relationship between the two Parties. 

ARTICLE   II
Economic and Industrial Cooperation

The Parties share a commitment to the principles of free market economy. They consequently agree to encourage and facilitate greater cooperation between their natural and legal persons including business communities, associations, institutions, and government agencies, in accordance with laws and regulations in force in each country. To this end, they agree to:

1.	Economic Cooperation

(a)	Exchange information on the economic development priorities, national economic plans and forecasts, and other significant national policies and development, which have an impact on economic cooperation between the two countries and their subjects;
(b)	Identify and facilitate investment opportunities in the private sector and parastatal enterprises by: 
(i)	Informing each other on the laws and regulations governing foreign investments and any changes thereto;
(ii)	Identifying specific projects and sectors of potential interest for joint cooperation; 
(iii)	Informing their respective business communities of investment opportunities in the other country; and 
(iv)	Encouraging the expansion of financial and banking cooperation; 
(c)	Promote and support economic and investment missions, market analyses, exchange of commercial and marketing information, business and institutional linkages, and other initiatives which bring together potential business partners; 
(d)	Inform each other of the existing facilities concerning industrial fairs, exhibitions, missions and other promotional activities;
(e)	Facilitate an exchange of public and private sector experts, technicians, investors, and business representatives, as well as material and equipment necessary for the fulfilment of activities falling within the scope of this Agreement; and 
(f)	Explore joint business development possibilities in third countries arising from partnership between Thai and Slovak companies.

2.	Industrial Cooperation 

Promote and enhance private and public sectors’ industrial, technical and technological cooperation, including transfer of technology through appropriate channels in accordance with their respective economic and development policies and priorities by encouraging, supporting, and facilitating: 
(a)	Promotion of joint ventures;
(b)	Exchange of information on technologies and know-how, licensing arrangements and industrial consultancy; 
(c)	Transfer of technology through know-how, training and research programmes in order to promote the application, adaptation, and improvement of existing and new technical products, processes and management skills; 
(d)	Initiatives to improve quality control and standards for products;
(e)	Contacts between the respective industry, science and technology communities; and
(f)	Exchanges of views on the formulation and application of science and technology policies. 

ARTICLE  III
Development Cooperation

The Parties share a commitment to the concept of development cooperation. Under this Agreement, they have agreed to work together to encourage and facilitate greater involvement of private sector in the industrial and technological growth of both countries. The Parties shall make special efforts to foster long-lasting linkages between their public and private sectors by identifying development projects that would: 
1.	Strengthen cooperation of both countries’ planning and economic management institutions aimed to improve the business environment through technical cooperation and other mechanisms; 
2.	Promote the implementation of human resource development through projects linking Thai and Slovak educational training and research institutions, with particular attention to programmes that would enhance the capacity of Thai and Slovak organisations to utilise new technologies appropriate to their developmental needs; 
3.	Assist in the implementation of rural and regional industrialisation, particularly with respect to the needs of small and medium-size enterprises; and 
4.	Encourage, support, and facilitate programmes of the public and private sectors in the business development.

ARTICLE  IV
Areas of Cooperation

The principal areas of cooperation shall be in sectors of respective economic, industrial and developmental priorities of the Parties, which may include:
1.	Natural resources, including resource management in forestry, fisheries, livestock and mining; 
2.	Human resource development in particular know-how and training programmes; 
3.	Energy; 
4.	Metallurgy including metal working industry;
5.	Industrial Equipment and Components;
6.	Electric and Electro technical Industry;
7.	Chemical and Petrochemical Industry;
8.	Tourism;
9.	Cooperation between small and medium-sized businesses;
10.	Agriculture and Food Processing;
11.	Environment including waste management and water treatment;
12.	Information and Communication Technology; 
13.	Vehicle Industry and auto-components; 
14.	Transportation; 
15.	Science and Technology; and 
16.	Other fields of cooperation that may be mutually agreed upon. 

ARTICLE V
Institutions

1.	A Joint Commission on Economic Co-operation, co-chaired by the high-level representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, is hereby established by the Parties to accomplish the objectives of this Agreement. 
2.	The meetings of the Commission shall be convened by mutual consent upon request by each Party alternately in Thailand and Slovakia. 
3.	The duties of the Joint Commission shall comprise, in particular, the following: 
a)	Discussion of the development of bilateral economic relations;  
b)	Identifying new possibilities for the further development of future economic co-operation; 
c)	Drawing up suggestions for the improvement of terms for the economic co-operation between enterprises of both countries; and 
d)	Making recommendations for the implementation of this Agreement. 
4.	The Joint Commission may set up subcommittees or working groups and may invite representatives of relevant organisations and institutions as well as high ranking business representatives of the Parties. 
5.	For each Party the following Co-ordinating Body shall co-ordinate and oversee the implementation of this Agreement: 
a)	In case of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
b)	In case of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Economy. 

ARTICLE   VI
Final Provisions

1.	Nothing in this Agreement shall prejudice or affect the rights and obligations of either Party under international agreements to which either of them is member or party. 
2.	In case of the Slovak Republic this Agreement may not be interpreted in such a way as to invalidate or otherwise affect the obligations arising from its membership in the European Union. 
3.	This Agreement shall enter into force 60 days after the date of signature and shall remain in force for an indefinite period unless either Party notifies the other, in writing, of its intention to terminate the Agreement at least three (3) months prior to the date of its expiry.
4.	This Agreement may be amended at any time by a written agreement of the Parties. 
5.	The amendment or termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of arrangements and contracts already concluded under this Agreement. 

DONE in …………………., on ……………………. , in two originals in the Thai, Slovak and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence in the interpretation of this Agreement, the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF 
THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC