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India for Free Trade Area with Thailand

Bangkok Nov. 8. India today said it was willing to consider a Free Trade Area with Thailand as the two countries discussed ways of enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who made a brief visit to Thailand on his way back home from Laos, expressed India's willingness to consider a Free Trade Area between the two countries during the talks with his Thai counterpart, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr. Thaksin, who visited India twice in February and October this year, hosted a lunch for Mr. Vajpayee at the Foreign Office here.

Mr. Vajpayee was received at the Don Muang airport by the Thai Foreign Minister, Surakiat Sathirathai.

Officials said Mr. Vajpayee's visit was intended to renew constructive dialogue with Thailand, which is an important trading and investment partner of India in the ASEAN. India's exports to Thailand reached $429 million in the first seven months this year. Indian exports to Thailand include gems, jewellery, iron and steel products, lubricants and medicinal and pharmaceutical products, while Thai exports include agricultural commodities, automobile parts, automatic data processing machines and chemical products.

India is also a part of the sub-regional economic cooperation in the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Initiative.

A Thai official said the two leaders agreed in principle to expand air routes between the two countries to increase trade and tourism. Thai Airways already operates 13 flights a week from Bangkok to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai, while Air India operates 10 flights a week to Bangkok.

The official said Mr. Thaksin extended an invitation to India to discuss an extradition treaty between the two countries. — PTI

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