Thailand’s Parliamentary delegation, led by Chairwoman Pikulkaew Krairiksh of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, visited the Indian Parliament on Thursday, expressing keen interest in investing in various projects.
Krairiksh acknowledged the warm hospitality received in India and emphasized the importance of fostering connectivity between the Indian and Thai parliaments.
“We appreciate the hospitality here,” she stated, expressing hope for continued collaboration. “I hope that we can maintain connectivity between the Thai and Indian parliaments. We have projects like the trilateral road in the north and the Ranong port, which we have been discussing for a long time. I believe India might find them interesting.”
One significant project discussed is the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, spanning over 1,300 kilometers. This ambitious initiative aims to enhance connectivity, regional integration, and trade ties between Myanmar and Thailand, with potential benefits for travel and tourism.
The project, endorsed by the Ministry of External Affairs, is poised to strengthen physical connectivity, people-to-people linkages, and promote tourism, trade, and commerce. Particularly, India’s North Eastern region stands to gain substantially from this venture.
The trilateral highway project has garnered attention beyond its current scope, as India has proposed extending the road further to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. This expansion underscores India’s commitment to fostering regional connectivity and cooperation.
Highlighting the historical and cultural ties, India and Thailand share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea. These bilateral relations are deeply rooted in history, reflecting age-old social and cultural interactions, as well as extensive people-to-people contacts.
Last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Bangkok for the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism meeting, where discussions centered on connectivity initiatives, particularly the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.
The ongoing dialogue underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen ties and promote mutual development.