Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 20 2009:
Road connectivity must be made better in order to enhance border trade between India and Thailand, said Tharadol Thongruang, Councillor Commercial, Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi.
He was addressing at Border Trade Conclave held on the sidelines of ongoing Manipur Tourism Festival at the conference hall of Hotel Anand Continental here today.
Tharadol said that road condition from Moreh to Imphal must be improved in order to carry out better border trade between Manipur (India) and Thailand.
Maintaining that he saw many Thai products have reached border town Moreh in his last visit to the State, the Councillor said that Manipur (India) and Thailand can speed up trade relations if situation permits.
Saying that raw materials like ginger, woods and turmeric are highly demanding in Thailand, Tharadol said that trade volume can also be increased from the current 82 items which the two countries have agreed under Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Regarding State's tourism industry, Tharadol said that it must be made easier for tourists to reach the State if the Government has to earn revenue from tourism industry.
Saying that Manipur has long 'paper works' for tourists in order to reach the State, Tharadol also informed the gathering that Sikkim has no such processors.
He further said that Phuket has no long coastline like Goa or Chennai, but the beach attracts huge number of tourists only because Thailand Government welcomes tourists without any hassle.
In the current trend, Tharadol said, advertisement and promotion too are important.
Maintaining that Manipuris and Thai people are more or less similar in their looks and physical structures, Tharadol also asked the gathering to take him as a friend of the State, and promised that he would do his best to enhance relation with Manipur.