Thai officials discusses trade potentials in State with Govindas
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, March 28, 2014:
A 23-member delegate led by Tharadol Thongruang, Minister Councellor (Commercial Affairs), Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi along with officials from the Department of Business Development, ministry of Commerce, Govt.of Thailand and 15 Businessmen from logistics sector arrived in Imphal on March 26 in connection with the BIMSTEC-ASEAN Trade Lane Survey.
A meeting was held today at the office chamber of Govindas Konthoujam, Manipur Minister for Commerce and Industries with the visiting delegates on ways to develop business opportunities in the region, on surveying potentials of logistic connection, creating business relations and network with local businessmen and studying systems of logistics and goods transportation especially between India and Thailand.
Speaking to mediapersons, L Lakher, IAS, Commissioner, Commerce and Industries, disclosed the details of the discussion at a press conference held at his office inside Old Secretariat today.
He added that Govindas also brought out details of the various development works being carried out along the Moreh region and elsewhere in the State in connection with Trade and Commerce, including the Railway project which is scheduled to connect Imphal with the rest of the country by 2017, as also the possibility of extending the same upto Myanmar.
Discussing the present Visa-on arrival status which is provided only to tourists and for medical purposes, he also stated that a proposal to provide visa to the general individuals has been made to the home ministry while adding that the state has already proposed a flight service connecting Manipur to the rest of South east Asian countries and have been assured of the same being granted.
The delegates also expressed that at present, there are four flights daily operating in Mandalay-Bangkok sector, and since Imphal-Mandalay flight takes only 45 minutes, well serviced flights from Imphal to Mandalay will enable tourists to reach other Asian countries with ease.
A car rally from Thailand to Imphal to improve interaction amongst the people of the two countries is on the pipeline, as disclosed by a delegate, while drawing attention to the trilateral highway under construction inside Myanmar by BRTF personnel which will connect Moreh with Myanmar and Thailand.
The team arrived at Imphal yesterday from Bangkok via Kolkata and Guwahati, where they conducted a study tour on logistics management.
They later proceeded by road to Kohima and onto Imphal via route AH2. The team left Imphal yesterday for Kale Myo passing the Indo-Myanmar border town Moreh and will be reaching Mandalay on the 28th of this month where a meeting is scheduled with the Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry representatives at Mandalay Hills hotel.
The team will fly back to Bangkok from Mandalay on the 29th March.