IMPHAL, March 27: A twenty-three member delegation of Thailand Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy,New Delhi led by Tharadol Thongruang, Minister Counsellor (Commercial) reached Imphal on Wednesday and discussed the trade route from Thailand to India.
This was stated by the commissioner of veterinary and commerce & industry L Lakher.
In a press conference at his chamber in the New Secretariat, the commerce and industry secretary said that a Thai team along with five officials from the department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Thailand and others including 15 businessmen from the logistics sector of Thai Enterprises reached Imphal on Wednesday evening.
In a meeting held on Thursday, various issues of trade and commerce with the objective to find out opportunities to do business in this region, survey potentials of logistic connection, creating business relations and networks with local businessmen and studying system of logistics and goods transportation especially between India and Thailand were discussed.
Lakher said that their visit portends well for trade in the state. State officials briefed about the present state of infrastructure in Manipur. They were assured that the construction of the trilateral highway in Myanmar which will connect with Thailand is progressing and will be completed by 2016. The 40 kilometre stretch from Kale Myo to Yangji is for now in a deplorable condition.
The state official informed them that the undeveloped section in Imphal-Moreh route will soon be developed. The network of Trans Asian Railway route from Imphal to Myanmar is next priority after completion of Jiribam to Imphal railway line within 2017, he added.
The state has already submitted proposal for visa-on-arrival facilities for trade and commerce activities with other South East Asian countries which for now is only limited to medical tourism in the state. And the state has also urged the Civil Aviation Ministry for allowing the India-Bangkok flight via Mandalay. This can improve trade as well people to people contact.
The Thailand team suggested an Imphal-Mandalay flight instead of a direct flight to Thailand because there are 4 to 5 flights from Mandalay to Thailand in a day. They also informed that the duration of the Imphal-Mandalay flight is only 45 minutes and more convenient than a direct flight to Thailand. The main problem is the visa-on-arrival facility to reach Imphal, Lakher told the media.
He said that a car rally will soon be organised to observe the route from Thailand to Imphal. The delegation left Imphal on Thursday for a meeting in Moreh and will reach Thailand by passing Moreh and Tamu on their way to Kale Myo and Mandalay.