Thailand business delegation meets CM
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 22 2022:
A business delegation from Thailand led by Ambassador of Thailand to India Pattarat Hongtong reached here on Thursday and called on chief minister N Biren, and held discussion on various areas of cooperation between Thailand and Manipur.
The delegation arrived in Imphal from the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi on a flight on Thursday morning.
The delegation was received by an official team of the state government led by health and family welfare minister Dr Sapam Ranjan at Imphal international airport from where they went to the CM's secretariat.
The two teams had talks on cooperation between Thailand and Manipur in various areas including Act East Policy, information technology, tourism, healthcare among others.
Chief Minister N Biren apprised the delegation about the state government's proposal to the Central government for introducing regular flight service between Bangkok and Imphal, and invited the team to attend the forthcoming Manipur Sangai Festival.
Health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan, commerce and industries minister Nemcha Kipgen, chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, additional chief secretary Vumlunmang and other senior officials of the state government also attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, CM Biren took to Twitter expressing pleasure on having the Thai Business delegation led by ambassador Pattarat Hongtong and stated that they had a productive discussion on a range of issues.
The Thai ambassador also posted on Twitter expressing hope of seeing collaboration between Thailand and Manipur in the near future.
Later, the delegation went to Moreh and assessed the cross border trade with Myanmar.
The team was accorded a warm welcome at the Integrated Check Post in Moreh, after which they visited the border Gate No 1 and 2 .
On their way back to Imphal, the delegation also took a short assessment of Moreh Market at Singjamei Keithel.
They will leave Imphal for New Delhi on Friday.
On Wednesday, a joint delegation of representatives of the Thailand government and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), held an interactive session with private investors in Shillong.
The discussion focused on opportunities of bilateral trade between the two countries with a special focus on the northeast region.
Ambassador Pattarat Hongtong said that Thailand is looking forward to corporation in tourism, fishery, and the food processing sector with Meghalaya.
Hongtong, during her talks with private investors, said that Thailand wants to enhance its relationship with northeastern states, including Meghalaya.
The planned cooperation with northeastern states and Thailand couldn't be furthered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, adding that there is a huge opportunity for Thailand and the northeastern states to work for the prosperity of the region.
She also stressed on the need to develop the connectivity between the NE and Thailand to bolster trade and commerce.
Participants inquired about the sectors and resources in which to invest in.
They said that there is no direct connectivity to sea ports and expressed the need for strengthening tourism ties with Thailand.