On 29 September 2014, Thailand hosted the 2^nd Thailand-India Joint Working Group Meeting on Connectivity and Infrastructure at the VIE Hotel in Bangkok. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Rattikul Chansuriya, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, with H.E. Mr. Sanjay Bhattacharya, Joint Secretary (South), Minister of External Affairs of India as head of the Indian delegation. The Thai delegation included representatives from relevant authorities, such as the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the Marine Department and the Department of Civil Aviation. The previous meeting of the Joint working Group was hosted by India on 11 September 2012 in New Delhi.

            At this meeting, the main topics of discussion were Thailand and India cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure, focusing on the developing and linking of ports on the Eastern coast of India and those on the Western coast of Thailand as well as the possibility of short sea shipping services to connect the two countries’ production bases. India also expressed great interest in the Dawei Deep Sea Port and Special Economic Zone Development Project. Moreover, the two sides agreed to strengthen air connectivity by expediting the negotiation of a new bilateral Air Services Agreement, and by considering the possibility of opening up new air routes between Thailand and key cities in northeastern India. Thailand and India believed that the strengthening of cooperation in the areas of connectivity and infrastructure would reduce transport costs and promote bilateral trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, in line with Thailand’s policy to enhance regional connectivity.

            India’s interest in the Dawei Deep Sea Port and Special Economic Zone Development Project corresponds with its Look East Policy. For India, Dawei is a strategic location that connects India with Thailand and the rest of ASEAN. This fully complements Thailand’s own Look West Policy that aims to connect Thailand with India and other South Asian countries. At this occasion, Thailand agreed to organise a roadshow to promote this project to Indian investors as suggested by India.

            Thailand reiterated the importance of the development of Thai ports in the Andaman Sea and the Short Sea Shipping Initiative, led by the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), with a view to making Ranong Port another important logistics route in the region as freight transport between India and Thailand will no longer have to pass the Strait of Malacca. This will significantly reduce the cost and time of shipping, thereby facilitating trade between the two countries. This project is currently at its initial stage, but there are plans in place to connect Ranong Port with ports on the eastern coast of India in the near future.

            The meeting also discussed India’s policy to revise its negotiating framework for the bilateral Air Services Agreement with Thailand and other countries. Both sides agreed to expedite the negotiations on the new bilateral Air Services Agreement. Moreover, the meeting discussed ways to enhance air connectivity between Thailand and India. In particular, India suggested that Thai airliners consider the possibility of introducing commercial flights to destinations in northeastern India, for example, Guwahati in Assam, whichis a growing city with tremendous economic potential. The Indian side proposed that this could be done by having a transit point in Myanmar e.g. Bangkok-Mandalay-Guwahati route.

            India and Thailand also gave comprehensive briefings on their respective national transport infrastructure development strategies. Both sides agreed that a good domestic network of connectivity significantly contributes to the enhancement of regional connectivity.

            To this end, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working closely with relevant agencies to expedite the key areas of cooperation on connectivity between India and Thailand. This work is driven by both countries’ recognition of the concrete benefits thatenhanced connectivity could bring in terms of stimulating bilateral trade, investment and tourism, which will in turn strengthen the overall relations between India and Thailand.