Sri Vijaya Puram, May 20: Thailand has initiated fresh efforts to deepen economic and tourism engagement with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with senior representatives from the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata holding a series of meetings in Sri Vijaya Puram focused on connectivity, maritime trade and investment opportunities.
Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul General of Thailand in Kolkata, accompanied by Chek Jeenaphan, Director of the Thai Trade Centre in Chennai, met D K Joshi, Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Vice-Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, at Lok Niwas to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation between Thailand and the Islands.
According to officials, discussions with the Lt Governor focused on sectors such as fisheries, tourism and hospitality, besides the possibility of direct overseas flights connecting the Islands with Thailand.
The Thai delegation also explored opportunities for investment in sectors being opened up by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, particularly luxury resorts, hospitality infrastructure and golf course projects. The discussions come amid the Administration’s ongoing efforts to position the Islands as a premium tourism destination with stronger international connectivity.
Officials indicated that the strategic location of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands near Southeast Asian maritime routes makes them important for regional tourism and trade engagement in the Bay of Bengal and eastern Indian Ocean region.
Following the meeting with the Lt Governor, the Thai delegation also interacted with representatives associated with trade and business groups from the Nicobar region.
Rashid, representing the Nicobar chambers of commerce, discussed possibilities for expanding maritime trade cooperation with Thailand, especially in ways that could support tribal and local economic interests in the Nicobar region.
During the discussions, Rashid reportedly suggested the possibility of creating a controlled maritime trade route under which Thai vessels could dock and unload goods at local ports with restricted movement protocols for visiting officials and crew members within harbour premises during their stay.
The proposal, according to participants, was aimed at balancing trade opportunities with local regulatory and security considerations in the Islands.
Rashid also referred to the progressing Sabang-Ache trade arrangement involving Indonesia and expressed interest in exploring a similar trade framework between Thailand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the future.
The interaction also focused on opportunities for improving trade in seafood, marine products and other commodities while ensuring regulated and monitored port operations.
The Thai representatives additionally announced plans for a trade convention to be organised at Express Avenue Mall in Chennai from July 31 to August 2. Business groups, entrepreneurs and traders from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been invited to participate in the event, which is expected to showcase Thai products, trade opportunities and Thai cuisine.
The delegation also held detailed discussions with members of the Andaman Nicobar Chamber of Commerce & Industry regarding strengthening economic ties between Thailand and the Islands through improved air and sea connectivity.
The Chamber highlighted the need to improve tourism, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two regions through direct transportation links.
One of the key issues discussed during the meeting was the revival of the earlier agreement between the Andaman Nicobar Chamber of Commerce and the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, along with the Twin City Agreement between the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Government of Phuket.
Representatives from both sides reportedly agreed that renewed institutional cooperation could create stronger opportunities for tourism promotion, business exchanges and commercial engagement between southern Thailand and the Islands.
The Chamber also stressed the need for direct international flights between Sri Vijaya Puram and destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket. It suggested that viability gap funding or operational support mechanisms could be considered to encourage airlines to commence services on these sectors.
During the meeting, Chamber representatives informed the Thai delegation that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration had already introduced incentives to support international air connectivity, including waiver of landing charges, exemption of passenger service fees and removal of Value Added Tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel.
The Thai delegation further informed the Chamber that Ranong Port in Thailand is presently undergoing upgradation. Given its proximity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, both sides discussed the possibility of launching cargo and container shipping services between Ranong and Port Blair.
According to participants, such connectivity could help facilitate exports of seafood and marine products from the Islands while enabling imports of consumer goods, construction materials and other products from Thailand at competitive prices.
The meetings concluded with both sides expressing interest in strengthening long-term cooperation in maritime trade, tourism, connectivity and investment, signalling a renewed push to deepen engagement between Thailand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
