Economic & Commercial Events - January – November 2015

A Presentation on Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor

CMD and CEO of DMIC Mr. Talleen Kumar visited Thailand on 19-21 January 2015 to disseminate information

about Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and encourage Thai investment in India. Embassy in association with

India-Thai Chamber of Commerce organized an event to give presentation & detailed information on Delhi

Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project by Mr. Talleen Kumar on 19th January 2015 at India- Thai Chamber

of Commerce, Bangkok.

Publicity Event for INDIASOFT- 2015

A publicity event was organized on 21st January, 2015 at India Culture Centre, Bangkok to promote the 15th

edition of “INDIASOFT 2015 - International IT Exhibition & Conference in New Delhi from February 12-13,

2015” organized by Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) of India. During the

event the opportunities and incentives available for the participants under Hosted Buyers Programme, which

include providing complimentary air tickets to Thai IT Companies for participation in the Event. The

participants were also informed about the website of the event to get more information on INDIASOFT. The

event was attended by representatives of various Thai IT companies. Ambassador Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla

and Deputy Chief of Mission also addressed the gathering.

Thai SMEs – Passage to India

On 26th February, 2015, the Embassy, in collaboration with the prestigious Thammasat University, organized a

special event for Thai SMEs entitled “Thai SMEs – Passage to India”. As many as 75 prominent Thai SMEs

attended the event, which was used to promote investments in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The

event involved the participation from Bangkok Bank, Institute of Small and Medium Enterprises Development

(ISMED) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). In collaboration with the Embassy, a new Thai-language

website (www.thai-indiainfo.com) was launched by Thammasat University at the event to disseminate

information on ‘Doing Business in India’. The University also signed a MoU with an Indian company, Kloud

Data, for innovation training and business collaboration for start-up companies. The Thai SMEs present

expressed significant interest in exploring investment opportunities in India in sectors such as power

generation, cosmetics, gems and jewellery, etc., and asked a number of questions on taxation, ease of

investment, financial regulations, finding partners and labour.

VISIT OF FARMING PROFESSIONALS FROM ASSAM

A group of 16 farming professionals from Assam visited Thailand under “Thailand-India Exchange Programme”

during 22-28 February 2015 to understand the advanced technology and good practices in the agriculture and

food processing sectors in Thailand. The Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Kingdom of Thailand

facilitated their visit in Thailand and arranged for the site visits and meetings with various stakeholders and

practitioners in the field. During the visit, farming professionals visited various places/universities/farms in

Bangkok and outside Bangkok [Pathum Thani province, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom province

etc.]. The farming professional also visited the Embassy and met the Ambassador on 27th February 2015. They

expressed their satisfaction over the visit and shared their experience and knowledge gained during their visit.

VISIT OF ACMA DELEGATION

Embassy of India, Bangkok in association with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India

(ACMA) organized the visit of a delegation from Young Business Leaders' Forum, an arm of ACMA, to Thailand

from 9-13 March 2015. The delegation consisted of 20 second & third generation scions of the auto

component industry leaders in India and was led by Mr. Sanjay Labroo, Chief Mentor of YBLF & Past President

ACMA. The visit was organized with a view to explore investment opportunities, develop an understanding on

the R&D scenario in the Thailand automotive industry, and to find possibilities of developing long term

business relationship with the Thailand. In Bangkok, the visit began on 9 March 2015 with a presentation on

Thai Auto Industry by Mr. Koh Eng Lok, Country Head Thailand, Frost & Sullivan, giving an insight on Thailand

and Thai Automotive Industry in particular. The delegation met Mr. G. Balasubramanian, Deputy Chief Mission

on the same day at the Embassy and had a detailed briefing meeting, where the economic and commercial

scenario in Thailand and the prospects of business linkages in the automotive sector were discussed. The

delegation visited the office of Board of Investment of Thailand(BOI) and met their representatives, where a

detailed presentation was made by Ms. Bonggot Anuroj, Executive Director of BOI on the economic scenario in

Thailand, followed by presentations on Auto component sector and the ‘One Start One stop Investment Centre’

by the respective experts of BOI. The delegation also visited the Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association

(TAPMA) and had an interaction with their office bearers and sector experts. Site visits were arranged for the

delegation at AAPICO Hitech Public Co. Ltd., Thai Summit Automotive Co., Ltd, Honda Automobile (Thailand)

Co. Ltd., TS Tech (Tier 1 supplier to Honda), Kobelco Research Institute, Tokai Rika Thailand and AGC

Automotive (Thailand) Co. Ltd.

Chemical Buyer-Seller Meet

130 Thai companies and 37 visiting Indian companies, representing products such as Dyes, Chemicals, Soaps,

Detergents, Cosmetics, Essential Oils, etc., attended the ‘CHEMICAL BUYER SELLER MEET’ organized by

CHEMEXCIL on 19 March 2015, with the Embassy of India, at Hotel Westin Grande, Bangkok. Mr. S.G. Bharadi,

Acting Executive Director, CHEMEXCIL welcomed participants and provided an overview of the Chemicals

sector in India.

Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla, in his inaugural address, invited Thai companies to look at opportunities

for further engagement with India, considering the complementarities between India and Thailand in this

sector and highlighted the new initiatives of the Government of India like Make in India, DMIC, Smart Cities,

liberalization of the FDI policy, eBiz.gov, etc. He invited the Thai businesses to explore the vast potential for

investment in India and drew the attention of the audience to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message of

replacing “red tape” with “red carpet”. Other speakers included Mr. Mahabir Koder, Chairman, Chemical

Industry Club, Federation of Thai Industries and Mr. Mingpant Chaya, Joint President of the Thai Chamber of

Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, who urged Thai companies to look at a new and fast growing India.

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27 March 2015

Meeting of Indian Business Leaders Group (IBLG) convened by the Embassy was attended by 35 CEOs. A

presentation on new economic initiatives undertaken by the Government of India was made by Dr.Binoy

George, First Secretary. The initiative of convening the IBLG as a forum for investment promotion and

strengthening of bilateral economic ties was appreciated by all participants. Interactive discussions covered

topics such as Smart cities concept in India, India-Thailand FTA, investment opportunities for Thai companies

in India, status of various schemes launched by the Government of India, support for the Indian Studies

programme in Thammasat University, etc.

29 May 2015

Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. NirmalaSitharaman

addressed business leaders in Thailand on new economic initiatives by the Government of India at an event

organized by the Embassy of India, Bangkok, in association with the Chambers of Commerce and business

associations in Thailand on “Make in India” on 29 May 2015. The event was attended by more than

120 participants from Thai and Indian business community, members of various Chambers of Commerce,

Federation of Thai Industries, representatives from Board of Investment of Thailand and the Royal Thai

Government.

28 June 2015

A business meeting on the ‘New Initiatives by the Government of India’ was organized by the Embassy at

Hotel Shangrila in Bangkok on 28 June 2015. H.E. Smt. SushmaSwaraj, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs of

India addressed Indian business leaders in Thailand at the event and gave a key note address on the new

initiatives of Government of India. The Ambassador in his opening remarks touched upon the opportunities for

partnering in the flagship programmesof the Government of India. The Embassy had launched an “Indian

Business Leaders Group Meeting” with the captains of industry in Thailand who were invited for the meeting.

As many as 65 prominent Indian Business leaders attended the event which was preceded by audio visual

presentation on ‘New Initiatives by the Government of India’.

8 July 2015

Embassy of India, Bangkok in association with the Government of India Tourism Office, organized an Indian

tourism promotion event in Bangkok on 8 July 2015 at Hotel Grand Millennium Sukhumvit. The focus of the

event was to increase awareness among Thai tourists about the variety of options and destinations available in

India, beyond the Buddhist circuit. Around 20 Indian tour operators from different regions of the country

including Delhi, Gaya, Kolkata and Mumbai participated in the event, bringing with them specific packages and

promotional material for Thai tourists. More than 140 tour operators and professionals from the field of travel

and tourism participated in the event, which began with a Business to Business meeting. Airline companies

from India including Air India were provided separate space, where they had set up stalls for B2B meetings. In

his opening remarks, Ambassador emphasized on the need to promote new destinations and highlighted the

plethora of tourism options available in India. A presentation on the e-Tourist Visa Facility available for Thai

passport holders was made by Shri Y. Neelkantham, Assistant Director, India Tourism Office, Singapore. This

was followed by experience sharing by Thai tour operators on their visits to Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim,

Darjeeling and Sanchi among other Buddhist sites. A presentation on Assam tourist destinations was made by

MD, Assam Tourism Development Authority. Another important attraction during the event was an ice carving

model of ‘SanchiStupa’ done by a famous artist from Bangkok.

23 July 2015

H. E. General ChatchaiSarikulya, Minister of Commerce of Thailand inaugurated the Southern International

Trade Expo 2015 at SuratThani on 23 July 2015. Director General of DITP, Miss Nunthawan, Deputy Chief of

Mission, Mr. G. Balasubramanian, Mayor Surat city (India), Mr. NiranjanZanzmera, President of Southern

Chamber of Commerce, Mr. C.S. Jariwala and Member of Legislative Assembly of Surat, Mr. PurneshModi

addressed the event. The meeting between Mayor of Surat, Mr. NiranjanZanzmera and Governor of

SuratThani, Mr. ChatpongChatraphutri was held on 22 July 2015 as a curtain raiser to Southern International

Trade Expo 2015 at SuratThani from 23 to 26 July 2015. A 12-member Gujarati folk dance and music troupe

‘HalarLok Kala Kendra’ performed at the celebrations. The Southern International Trade Expo is being held to

commemorate the Centennial Celebrationof relations between SuratThani and Surat. Around 140 Indian

businesspersons and exhibitors are participating in the Expo. The Embassy of India, Bangkok has set up a

stall to promote the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative at the Expo.

1 September 2015

Ambassador Harsh VardhanShringla, accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. G. Balasubramanian, First

Secretary and Director of Indian Cultural Centre Ms. MalathiRao and First Secretary Dr. Binoy George,

interacted with Chairman of Kanchanaburi Chamber of Commerce Mr. TeerachaiChutimant and its members,

business leaders from the province, students of Business Management and faculty on 1 September, 2015 at

the Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi Campus. He spoke about the economic and commercial relations

between India and Thailand, the opportunities that exist for businesses of both the countries to cooperate, the

existing institutional mechanisms to facilitate trade, the plans of connectivity between the two countries etc.

Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. G. Balasubramanian gave a presentation on the New Initiatives of the Government

of India. Ambassador invited the Chamber to participate in the future trade promotion events being organized

by the Embassy and offered to link them up with the Indian companies and the India Thai Chamber of

Commerce. The business leaders enthusiastically participated in an interactive session and many of their

questions on the commercial and investment opportunities in India were answered. A film on Make in India was

also screened during the session. During Ambassador visit, the Kanchanaburi Chamber of Commerce had

organized a special exhibition of the products that are locally produced including OTOP products, leather

shoes, food items, T-shirts, specialized tea, bakery products, agricultural produce like rice, sugar and

processed products.

27 October 2015

AmbssadorHarsh VardhanShringla visited UdonThani Province where he met the Governor H.E.

MrChaiyavootJarntorn. He also met Mr. SawatTeeraratananukulchai, Chairman and other members of the

Chamber of Commerce of UdonThani and KhunUtoompornAmpaivit, representative of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of Thailand. Ambassador also visited the Ban Chiang World Heritage Site and house of President Ho

Chi Minh in UdonThani Province. DrBinoy George, First Secretary of the Embassy of India accompanied the

Ambassador.

16 November 2015

The Embassy of India, in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Royal Thai

Embassy in New Delhi, organized a ‘Make in India’ Roadshow at Hotel DusitThani, Bangkok today. More than

200 CEO's from Thailand and India participated at the half day event which included a business matching

session.Mr.Amitabh Kant, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), delivered the

keynote address on “Make in India”. H. E Dr. AchakaSriboonruang, Minister of Industry and H. E. Mr.

SuvitMaesincee, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand delivered remarks on opportunities for cooperation

in trade and investment between the two countries. Detailed presentations were made by Mr. Shailendra

Singh, Joint Secretary, DIPP and representatives of the Board of Investment and National Economic and

Social Development Board of Thailand.Mr. Amitabh Kant was accompanied by a 30-member business

delegation from India representing FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM & the Indian Chamber of Commerce from Kolkata.