By IANS
Agartala : Thailand has evinced keen interest to expand its trade and cultural ties with India by doing business in the country's northeast, officials said.
A 50-member Thai business delegation led by Commerce Minister Krirk-Krai Jirapaet would visit the region next month and hold discussions with government officials and local entrepreneurs to work out modalities for setting up businesses in the northeast.
"Thailand is the first ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) country which has shown intense interest to start trade and investment in the northeast," Lok Ranjan, Tripura's industries and commerce commissioner, told IANS.
The decision by the Thai business team to visit the northeast comes after government heads at the recently concluded SAARC summit emphasised the need to increase trade and investment between the region and South Asian countries.
The Thai delegation would arrive here June 21 and hold meetings with officials and entrepreneurs, besides visiting some probable business destinations in Tripura. Mizoram government officials would also meet the Thai team in Agartala.
The Thai minister and his team would visit Kohima and hold separate meetings with Nagaland and Manipur government officials and local entrepreneurs of the two states.
The delegation would then visit Assam and Meghalaya before winding up their trip June 24.
"Thailand is willing to use bamboo, rubber and other forest based products for productive purposes," Ranjan said.
"Geographical and bio-diversity features of Thailand and northeast India are very similar and the former has made excellent forays in road construction and it would be of great advantage to the region if Thailand can partner in this area," Minister for Development of Northeast Region Mani Shankar Aiyar said recently.
"Second area of collaboration with Thailand could be the river transport segment and thirdly in the promotion of the natural rubber industry."
The minister said Thai and Assam silk were also very similar and collaboration is possible in this sector as well.
"To promote partnership in trade, investment, technology and entrepreneurship between the people of northeast India and Thailand, an institute would be set up in the northeast to teach Thai language," Aiyar added.
Meanwhile, a 19-member Bhutanese delegation is currently visiting Tripura and has also shown keen interest in the handloom and handicraft products of the state.