BANGKOK, May 30 � Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who arrived here today, said that the north eastern states of India offered ample scope for huge investments in different sectors and called upon Thai investors to invest in the NE states.
Acknowledging the importance of enhancing connectivity between India and Thailand through regional cooperation and development of road linkages, Dr Singh has recognised Thailand as a key gateway to the ASEAN Region and proposed to elevate bilateral ties into a �strategic partnership�.
�Thailand�s �Look West� and India�s �Look East� policies will be pivotal for the development of the Thailand-India relationship towards a strategic partnership,� said the Prime Minister.
Immediately upon arriving in the Thai capital this afternoon on a two-day visit, Prime Minister Singh got down to business and held bilateral discussions with Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. What is significant from New Delhi�s point of view was the signing of the Extradition Treaty and MoU on Cooperation in the exchange of Financial Intelligence related to Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing and Proc�s-verbal of Exchange of Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid signed the agreement on behalf of India. Several wanted criminals hiding in Thailand may now be handed over to India.
The other agreements signed included MoU on the 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 Organisation, India for cooperation in the field of Mapping and Geospatial Technology Applications, MoU on Establishment of Hindi Chair at Thammasat University.
India also wanted Thai companies to invest heavily in major infrastructure projects especially in Delhi-Mumbai and Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridors, the Buddhist circuit and the North-East States of India.
The two Prime Ministers 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 other countries.
Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project, as it would greatly enhance connectivity between the Mekong sub-region and India. They also noted that an agreement has been arrived at to make efforts to complete the trilateral road connectivity by 2016. 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.
Thailand has proposed 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. The move is aimed at maximising the utilisation of the Trilateral Highway, as a means of strengthening regional economic growth and integration.
Thailand briefed the Indian side on 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.
Further, Thailand 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.
Later, Prime Minister Dr Singh said that the two sides have just completed a very meaningful, productive and satisfying discussion on bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest. �We have agreed to maintain the momentum of regular high level dialogue. In the coming months, India�s Defence Minister, Commerce and Industry Minister and External Affairs Minister will be travelling to Bangkok,� he said.