IMPHAL, March 18: Hosted by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), an Indo-Thai business interactive session with Dr Nalinee Taveesin, Permanent Representative of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Royal Thai Government was held today at Hotel Classic .
Giving the theme address at the occasion, MK Saharia Chairman of North East Regional Council, ICC said, that Dr Nalinee immediately accepted the invitation to visit the North East India region to enhance the bilateral and business relations between Thailand and North East region thereby indicating the importance that her government gives to the relations between Thailand and India.
Announcing that the Moreh-Tamu route will be promoted as Trilateral Highway and by 2016 this highway will be operational, MK Saharia said, adding that the Trans national railway is likely to follow.
“We need to take advantage as we are at the centre. We will have to decide whether we would be a dump place of Thailand or China, or improve the connectivity with Thailand and Myanmar, ” he added.
O Nabakishore Singh, Principal Secretary Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur presented his slide show on the topic “Investment opportunities in Manipur and border trade connectivity”.
The slide show highlighted the Look East Policy of India, improvement of road between Moreh in Manipur and Maesot in Thailand under Trilateral Highway, border trade between India and Myanmar through Moreh etc.
Bus services between Imphal and Mandalay will commence shortly and an International airport will be commissioned by July of this year as assured by the CM in a meeting, he said.
Dr Nalinee Taveesin expressed her happiness with the spectacular and warm welcome on her first visit to Manipur. “We thought we landed in Thailand because the people here look the same.”
After talking with CM and Governor we have a good perspective of what is happening in Manipur, she said.
Making a pitch for strengthening ties between the two countries of Thainland and India, Dr Nalinee said that the trade relation between India and Thailand has grown substantially and with this kind of growth there will be lot of potential between NE and Thailand. “Once we have that cooperation, a lot of things can be done. There is a long relationship to be built not only in trade and commerce,” she added.
She then said, “Hopefully, we will have more direct air links in the near future and airlines from Thailand coming here soon with low fares.
The people from Thailand will see the potential and opportunity this area has to offer.”