India a great partner for future: Thai Deputy PM

Team Udayavani, Feb 15, 2017, 12:42 PM IST

Bangkok (Thailand): Seeking investments in areas like hi-tech industries and automobile, Thailand today said it considers India as a great partner for the future.

Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Somkid Jatusripitak also said that the South East Asian country wants to enhance the strategic partnership with India.

Addressing global investors, he said: “we welcome all nations. This is an opportunity for all our partners. We welcome you all for this opportunity…We would like to encourage the foreign investors to come here”. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Opportunity Thailand’.

The country has organised this day long event to showcase areas of investments for global investors including from India. Jatusripitak said the country is moving to Thailand 4.0 and there is huge scope of investments for all the countries.

When asked about the role of India in the Thailand 4.0, he said: “I see India as a great partner for the future and we really want to work with Indian government”.He said that Thailand would like to work in areas like hi-tech industries, where India has a strength.

Thai government has set up a committee to facilitate investments and provide business friendly environment, he said, adding there is a political stability in the country.

In the uncertain world, there is a light of opportunity for investors here, he added.Speaking at the event, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that the country would meet the needs of the investors.

He said innovation, research & development, robotics, auto and biotechnology are among the several sectors where investors can explore opportunities. He also said that the country needs expertise from other nations and it will relax laws to import the experts.

Thailand is wooing global investors including from India. It is working on ways to provide a conducive and competitive business environment.

The country is providing incentives such as matching funds for projects like high impact research and development or advanced training activities. It is also planning to give long term tax holidays and duty exemptions for certain priority sectors. Bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 8.5 billion in 2015-16.