The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Thailand `looks west', showcases wares in Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Thailand `looks west', showcases wares in Chennai

Staff Reporter

Three-day exhibition at Trade Centre displays everything from auto components to kitchenware

CHENNAI: : A three-day exhibition of products made in Thailand opened at the Chennai Trade Centre at Nandambakkam on Friday.

Nearly 40 companies are showcasing their products at the Thailand Exhibition 2005, the fourth in the series of such events in Chennai and organised by the Thai Trade Centre, the Thai consulate and the Department of Export Promotion, Thailand Ministry of Commerce.

On display are auto components and accessories, including fuel additive and lubricants; food and beverages such as rice products, juices and sauces; furniture; garments, textiles and fashion accessories; stationery items; gifts and decorative items; household and kitchenware; and health and herbal products. The exhibition is expected to attract thousands of visitors and serve as a forum for businessmen.

Prakob Panjacharoensiri, Consul (commercial) at the Royal Thai Consulate General, said the exhibition was in tune with the `look west' and `look east' policy of Thailand and India respectively, and aimed at building people-to-people contacts.

The free trade agreement signed by the two nations in September last would soon be expanded to cover 5,000 products. Under the early harvest scheme, it now covered 82 items, he said.

Inaugurating the exhibition, D. Jayakumar, Minister for Law and Information Technology, said Tamil Nadu was strategically located to do business with Thailand and the South East Asian countries.

The three major ports in the State served as gateways. The launch of a direct air link between Chennai and Bangkok led to a dramatic increase in the tourist traffic. Tamil Nadu offered investment opportunities in various sectors.

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