India, Thailand take ties to greater heights : Trilateral Highway Project figures high on agenda
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Information Bureau

Bangkok, May 30 2013: Taking note of the fruitful outcomes of the first meeting held between India and Thailand in New Delhi in September 2012, Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra welcomed the setting up of the Thailand-India Joint Working Group on Connectivity and Infrastructure to help expedite cooperation on connectivity initiatives in both countries as well as in third countries.

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh is in Thailand for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra.

The official talks between Thailand and India were held today in a warm, cordial and friendly atmosphere, reflecting the excellent bilateral relations and friendship that exist between the two countries.

Reaffirming the importance of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project, as it would greatly enhance the connectivity between the Mekong sub-region and India, both leaders also noted that the Joint Task Force Meeting on the Trilateral Highway, held in New Delhi in September 2012 agreed to make all efforts to complete the trilateral road connectivity by 2016, an official source said.

The meeting also emphasized the necessity to develop the infrastructure to ensure fast and seamless transit along the Trilateral Highway as well as an increase in trade, investment, services and tourism activities.

The Indian side also welcomed Thailand's proposal to host the next India�Myanmar�Thailand Joint Task Force Meeting on the Trilateral Highway Project, as well as the second Meeting of the Thailand-India Joint Working Group on Connectivity and Infrastructure in June-July 2013 .

The Thai side proposed to host the Third India-Myanmar-Thailand Ministerial Meeting on Transport Linkages to address the issues of infrastructure and facilitation.

This is aimed at maximizing the utilization of the Trilateral Highway as a means of strengthening regional economic growth and integration.

Thailand will liaise with India and Myanmar regarding the appropriate date for the Meeting.

The Thai side further informed of the progress that Thailand and Myanmar have made on the project for the development of the Dawei Special Economic Zone in southern Myanmar, which, once operational, would further enhance regional connectivity including port-to-port linkages with India and open enormous business opportunities for the region.

In this regard, the Thai side invited the Indian business sector to invest in the Dawei Special Economic Zone, especially in the areas where Indian companies have expertise, such as steel, manufacturing, power, petrochemicals, services and others.

Thailand welcomed India's invitation to organize a road show in India in this respect later this year, the source said.

Both sides noted with satisfaction that connectivity between India and Thailand through aviation has developed continuously and increased significantly.

There are currently around 150 flights between Thailand and India per week.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed new air routes by Thai Airways connecting Bangkok with Ahmedabad as well as Phuket - Delhi and Phuket - Mumbai.

They also expressed their support for more air connections between both countries.

During the meeting, both leaders have also signed slew of MOUs including on Extradition Treaty, Establishment of the Thailand-India Exchange Programme, MOU between Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency and Survey of India for cooperation in the field of Mapping and Geospatial Technology Applications, MOU between Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, Thailand and National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization, India for cooperation in the field of Mapping and Geospatial Technology Applications, MOU between Financial Intelligence Unit, India and Anti Money Laundering Organization, Thailand on Cooperation in the exchange of Financial Intelligence related to Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, MOU on Establishment of Hindi Chair at Thammasat University, Proc�s-verbal of Exchange of Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, according to the source.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Minister later this year in Bangkok to review the sector-wise progress and to identify new areas of cooperation.

Dr Manmohan Singh was accompanied by the Minister of External Affairs, a high level official and media delegation.

The Prime Minister of India presented a sapling of the sacred Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya as a special gift to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a symbol of the shared cultural heritage between India and Thailand.

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