Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will pay his maiden state visit to India when he arrives here Tuesday, during which both countries hope to further expand their economic ties.

“We are confident that the visit would impart new momentum to our excellent relations,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here Monday.

Vejjavia will begin his one-day visit with a breakfast meeting with top Indian corporate honchos. He will then meet members of the Indian leadership, including Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

The visiting Thai leader will hold delegation-level talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will also host a banquet in the guest’s honour later in the evening.

India-Thai bilateral trade has grown six times in the last ten years to $6.6 billion in 2010, Prakash said.

“There is still a lot of untapped potential both in trade and economic ties and that is what both sides seek to harness,” he added.

While Indian companies have made investments worth $1.6 billion, Thai investments in India at $800 million are only half that figure.

Thai companies have a lot of expertise in infrastructure and food processing industries which India is hoping to tap. “We are trying that they take more and more projects in the tourism sectors, especially in Buddhist sector,” said external affairs ministry Joint Secretary (South) Arun Goel.

India and Thailand are concurrently discussing a comprehensive free trade agreement in goods, services and investments, with the latest round of negotiations held in April.

Besides, defence cooperation, culture and education exchanges are expected to be other areas of discussions during the visit.