On 5 April 2019, 19 Thai delegates led by Mr. Somchai Hemthong, Assistant Director General, Asset Management and Business Development, Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), and the researchers of Chula Unisearch, Chulalongkorn University led by Associate Professor Jittichai Rudjanakanoknad, paid courtesy call on Ms. Sweeya Santipitaks, Thai Consul-General in Kolkata to discuss possibility in maritime connectivity between Thailand and India under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) framework.

On the same occasion, the delegates met Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in Kolkata and the ORF team to discuss possible cooperation between Thai ports and other ports in the Bay of Bengal. ORF pointed out West Bengal’s strong land and waterway connectivity to upper India and neighboring countries. Ms. Pratnashree Basu, Senior Fellow, ORF, recommended Thailand to consider linkage to Myanmar’s Sittwe Port and also to consider establishing direct contact or platform among port directors.

In the afternoon, Mr. Vinit Kumar, Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) welcomed and hosted lunch for the delegates. PAT and KoPT explored the possibility of various cooperation between Kolkata Port and Ranong Port, including a possible MOU. Mr. Himanshu Sekhar, traffic manager, KoPT said that Kolkata Port had a strategic location for BIMSTEC member-countries. Moreover, the draft depth of both ports was 8 meters which would be convenient for vessels to transport between the ports. Mr. Tanai Vipasthavach, Director of Research and Business Development Division, assured that with 3 billion baht upgrade, Ranong Port would be ready to accommodate future demands. Both sides agreed to convene in the near future to further discuss issues such as MOU drafting, potential commodities, and ship liners. In addition, KoPT also arranged for the Thai delegates to visit the Netaji Subhas Docks of Kolkata Port.