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Thailand has
pledged to explore suitable projects in northeast region in
backdrop of its increasing trade relation with India in past
three years. Thai commerce minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet has said
his government would workout an appropriate framework on mutual
cooperation while advocating alternatives if conventional routes
appear to be problematic for expansion of the economic
cooperation.
 Jirapaet
who was leading a 29-member business delegation that commenced
northeast India tour from Tripura to explore business potentials
in the region was flanked by union minister for northeast
development (DONER) and minister of state for commerce Jairam
Ramesh in Agartala on Friday. The first ever high-powered
delegation left for Guwahati on the day in the second part of
spate of visits and discussions in Assam and Meghalaya before
they conclude tour on June 25.
Thai
minister prelude to his prime minister’s official visit to New
Delhi said Thailand and India would soon sign free trade
agreement on cutting duties on goods and services. “Our volume
of trade with Indian has gone up from US$1.2bilion to US$4
billion”, Jirapaet stated adding they wanted meaningful
negotiations. In this context he said he past decades some 25
agreements were signed with India in past decades, but most of
them did not have true bearing.
When asked what were the business
potentials they were looking form, Krirk-krai Jirapaet opined
Agro based, tourism and natural resources have been their thrust
area in the northeast. He advised state governments like Tripura
should present potential areas and modalities to follow up.
“I want to
encourage food processing companies to see potential in the
region. The CP group of Thailand has already shown interest in
establishing a food processing union in the region that would be
their second endeavour after Chennai”, he added.
Minister for
Doner Mani Shankar Ayer appreciated remarkable progress Thailand
has made over past few decades despite grilled by similar
conditions and urged the Thai government to cooperate in
‘transforming the region with their experience, expertise and
investment’. He ushered success of ‘Look East Policy’ in simple
lightest context that journey from Changmai in Thailand to
Imphal by air was shorter than Kolkata.
Minister of
state for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has said to facilitate trade in
south and Southeast Asia, India was also exploring access to sea
through Myanmar and Bangladesh.
June 23 2007
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