FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND AND
THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
ON CLOSER ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
PREAMBLE
The Governments of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Bahrain, hereinafter called individually "the Party" and collectively "the Parties";

ARTICLE 7
ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

1. The Parties shall foster economic co-operation between them in all areas, including energy, finance, including banking, Islamic banking, insurance and joint ventures, manufacturing, trade and investment, promotion and facilitation, mobility of business people, transportation, fisheries, information and communication technology, customs procedures and quarantine, and standards and specifications in accordance with the objectives of this Agreement.

2. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the Agreement between the Parties on Economic, Trade and Technical Co-operation signed on the 3rd of November 2001.

ARTICLE 8
JOINT COMMITTEE

1. A Joint Committee composed of representatives of the Parties and headed by Thailand's Minister of Commerce and Bahrain's Minister of Finance & National Economy, or their designees shall supervise the proper implementation of this Agreement and shall review the economic and trade relationship between the Parties.

2. The Joint Committee shall have the following extended functions under this Agreement:

2.1 Reviewing the implementation of this Agreement generally and specifically with regard to the objectives of the customs union established under the Economic Agreement between the Gulf Co-operation Council Member States and Thailand's commitment under ASEAN;

2.2 Providing interpretation and guidelines for implementation of this Agreement;

2.3 Considering and making recommendations on the amendment or introduction of additional annexes, commitments or schedules to this Agreement or modification to the commitments subject to the domestic legal requirements of each Party;

2.4 Preparing the Schedules to be annexed hereto;

2.5 Facilitating the avoidance and settlement of disputes, through consultation; and

2.6 Any other related issues to this Agreement.

3. The Joint Committee may establish and delegate responsibilities to working groups or ad-hoc task forces.

4. The Joint Committee shall convene as and when necessary.

ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

1. Any dispute arising between the Parties regarding the interpretation, application or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled amicably by consultation between the Parties.

2. This Agreement may be amended by the written consent of the Parties.

ARTICLE 10
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND TERMINATION
OF THE AGREEMENT

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the 29th day of December 2002. Each Party will exchange notices of fulfillment of the Parties' respective d

omestic procedures regarding the approval and ratification thereof.

2. This Agreement shall remain in force unless terminated by either Party upon six months notice in writing.
DONE on the 29th day of December 2002 in duplicate copies in the English language, with all copies being equally authentic.