More Indian companies are set to open shop in Thailand to explore business opportunities here and across the Asean region in the wake of the wide-ranging economic, cultural and educational agreements signed between the two countries last month. That will pave the way for a boom in Indian leisure and business travel, convention and exhibition delegates and VFR travel to, from and within the India-Asean circuit.
"We've already started getting a number of inquiries about procedures (to establish companies here)," Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa said. The key business sectors of interest are pharmaceuticals, automotive, agriculture and agricultural machinery, gems and jewellery and information technology.
Asked why Indian companies were choosing Bangkok as against any other Asean capital to take advantage of a future Indian-Asean Free Trade Agreement, he cited the ease of connectivity, especially with cities such as Kolkata, as being one reason. Indians also felt more comfortable living in Bangkok from a social and cultural perspective.
Mr Wadhwa said the agreements would boost people movements between the two countries. To facilitate this, the two governments are sorting out looming issues related to visas, work permits and criminality.
Tourism is one major area. With nearly one million Indian arrivals to Thailand last year, the ambassador said several issues have emerged and need sorting out, such as hassles with the visa on arrival formalities at the airport and rip-offs by the jet-ski operators in Pattaya. Indians also have complained about being denied entry inspite of holding a valid visa.
The ambassador said he had discussed this matter with the head of the immigration to try and identify the precise reasons why the problems were occurring, which sometimes could be due to misunderstandings and/or language problems.
In turn, immigration officials have that the Indian visitors themselves are not blame-free in their attempts to duck providing proof of having sufficient funds to cover their costs.
Mr Wadhwa said he was told by the immigration officials that with so many Indian visitors coming to Thailand, a few hundred problem cases can be expected but the ambassador feels it is important to try and reduce even that number.
He has also taken up the jet-ski ripoffs with the mayor of Pattaya.
In all cases, assurances have been given that rectifying measures will be taken. New joint committees have been set up to meet regularly, discuss specific cases and take follow-up action. The Indians have also given the immigration department the phone number of the consular chief at the Indian embassy with instructions to call at any time.
On the commercial side, the ambassador said, Thai and Indian businesses would be tapping into their respective strengths to seek more opportunities in the other country. This would require movements of people with specific skill-sets, removal of impediments and help with cutting through the bureaucracies.
For example he said, Thai spas and restaurants are in demand in India, but staff at Thai spas don't get the salaries which are the minimum required for getting a work permit in India. The same with chefs working in Thai restaurants. Thai companies also want help with the procedures for buying or leasing land in India. And Thais are also asking for visa-on-arrival facilities at Indian airports.
In order to narrow the gap between Indian visitors to Thailand and Thai visitors to India, the Thai side has asked for improved facilities at the Buddhist holy spots Bodhgaya, more long-term visas for Thai businessmen and more scholarships to facilitate higher studies in India.
"It is now a complete package," the ambassador said. "We had a lot of pieces lying around for a long time but have now brought them together. This visit (by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra) gave the entire package a long-term focus but there's a lot of follow-up work to be done. If you marry your skills together you can do much better as a whole."
The ambassador said stepped up activities are planned on the cultural and educational front. A Thai-India CEOs forum planned for this year will raise the level of business and economic discourse. A Thai-India Foundation will see eminent people from both sides lecturing on a broad range of issues to make people better aware of each other's countries. A chair to be set up at the India Studies Centre at Chulalongkorn University will boost bilateral contacts amongst academia.
"We want to lift the image of India beyond Bharat Natyam (a traditional Indian dance-form) and Buddhism, beyond the stereotypical images into something a little bit more modern. We want to bring in a higher grade of theatre, movies and artistic performances."
The ambassador also indicated there was a heightened sense of urgency for the completion of the road from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Burma, which would boost economic development in India's restive Northeast region by providing access to ports in both Burma and Thailand.
He said it is now hoped that the long-delayed project would be finished within two years.
An India-Asean car rally is planned for this year to highlight the tourism and transportation potential of this vital piece of infrastructure.
Crosswoods holidays 2011
"We've already started getting a number of inquiries about procedures (to establish companies here)," Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa said. The key business sectors of interest are pharmaceuticals, automotive, agriculture and agricultural machinery, gems and jewellery and information technology.
Asked why Indian companies were choosing Bangkok as against any other Asean capital to take advantage of a future Indian-Asean Free Trade Agreement, he cited the ease of connectivity, especially with cities such as Kolkata, as being one reason. Indians also felt more comfortable living in Bangkok from a social and cultural perspective.
Mr Wadhwa said the agreements would boost people movements between the two countries. To facilitate this, the two governments are sorting out looming issues related to visas, work permits and criminality.
Tourism is one major area. With nearly one million Indian arrivals to Thailand last year, the ambassador said several issues have emerged and need sorting out, such as hassles with the visa on arrival formalities at the airport and rip-offs by the jet-ski operators in Pattaya. Indians also have complained about being denied entry inspite of holding a valid visa.
The ambassador said he had discussed this matter with the head of the immigration to try and identify the precise reasons why the problems were occurring, which sometimes could be due to misunderstandings and/or language problems.
In turn, immigration officials have that the Indian visitors themselves are not blame-free in their attempts to duck providing proof of having sufficient funds to cover their costs.
Mr Wadhwa said he was told by the immigration officials that with so many Indian visitors coming to Thailand, a few hundred problem cases can be expected but the ambassador feels it is important to try and reduce even that number.
He has also taken up the jet-ski ripoffs with the mayor of Pattaya.
In all cases, assurances have been given that rectifying measures will be taken. New joint committees have been set up to meet regularly, discuss specific cases and take follow-up action. The Indians have also given the immigration department the phone number of the consular chief at the Indian embassy with instructions to call at any time.
On the commercial side, the ambassador said, Thai and Indian businesses would be tapping into their respective strengths to seek more opportunities in the other country. This would require movements of people with specific skill-sets, removal of impediments and help with cutting through the bureaucracies.
For example he said, Thai spas and restaurants are in demand in India, but staff at Thai spas don't get the salaries which are the minimum required for getting a work permit in India. The same with chefs working in Thai restaurants. Thai companies also want help with the procedures for buying or leasing land in India. And Thais are also asking for visa-on-arrival facilities at Indian airports.
In order to narrow the gap between Indian visitors to Thailand and Thai visitors to India, the Thai side has asked for improved facilities at the Buddhist holy spots Bodhgaya, more long-term visas for Thai businessmen and more scholarships to facilitate higher studies in India.
"It is now a complete package," the ambassador said. "We had a lot of pieces lying around for a long time but have now brought them together. This visit (by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra) gave the entire package a long-term focus but there's a lot of follow-up work to be done. If you marry your skills together you can do much better as a whole."
The ambassador said stepped up activities are planned on the cultural and educational front. A Thai-India CEOs forum planned for this year will raise the level of business and economic discourse. A Thai-India Foundation will see eminent people from both sides lecturing on a broad range of issues to make people better aware of each other's countries. A chair to be set up at the India Studies Centre at Chulalongkorn University will boost bilateral contacts amongst academia.
"We want to lift the image of India beyond Bharat Natyam (a traditional Indian dance-form) and Buddhism, beyond the stereotypical images into something a little bit more modern. We want to bring in a higher grade of theatre, movies and artistic performances."
The ambassador also indicated there was a heightened sense of urgency for the completion of the road from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Burma, which would boost economic development in India's restive Northeast region by providing access to ports in both Burma and Thailand.
He said it is now hoped that the long-delayed project would be finished within two years.
An India-Asean car rally is planned for this year to highlight the tourism and transportation potential of this vital piece of infrastructure.
Crosswoods holidays 2011
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