Myanmar, India MOUs will help boost Thai trade

BANGKOK, June 10 (TNA) - India and Myanmar are in agreement on strengthening trade and investment that will link the two countries with Thailand. Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol said the move would include cooperation on a number of road projects, which was part of India’s “Look East” policy. Poom said if Myanmar seriously cooperated with India, the planned ‘Trilateral Highway,’ passing through Thailand’s Mae Sot District, Tak Province, would become an economic bridge linking up India, China and the rest of Southeast Asia. That would also give India a larger role in the region, he said, as India also wanted to widen its trade with Thailand and use the kingdom as a springboard in enlarging economic cooperation with ASEAN members. Combined trade value between Thailand and BIMSTEC members which include India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka rose steadily in the past three years. The combined trade value during the first four months this year totaled 5.301 billion U.S. dollars. (TNA)