Foreign Minister Satisfied with Visit to India, Summarizes Overview of Bimstec Framework

India, "Marish" is satisfied with the results of his visit to India, summarizing the overall picture of the Bimstec framework, emphasizing food security, energy, and human resources, while promoting Digital Nomad tourism, emphasizing Thailand's readiness to host the leaders' meeting in September and asking for support for Thailand to become a BRICS member later this year. Mr. Marist Sgt.Maj., Minister of Foreign Affairs, summarized the overall picture of the 2nd BIMSTEC Informal Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, India, during 11-12 July 2024 to pave the way for BIMSTEC member countries to discuss and exchange opinions freely in order to set a direction towards the BIMSTEC Summit to be hosted by Thailand this September. During the meeting, as Thailand is preparing to host, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, honored Thailand as the initiator. He proposed the importance of cooperation in the framework of 3 issues. Develop food security: Since Thailand and India and mos t member countries are agricultural countries, all 7 member countries can cooperate in maintaining food security in the region and helping the global community, especially in fisheries and rice cultivation, where food security can be exchanged experiences. Energy security by focusing on renewable energy, which many member countries have the potential to promote and develop security, such as Myanmar, which is considered a country with hydropower. In Thailand, the government is trying to promote alternative energy. Human resource security is cooperation in health care. Thailand is considered a key player in this matter. Therefore, the three cooperation frameworks will be considered at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand this September. In addition, the Indian government has arranged for BIMSTEC member states to discuss with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the Indian Prime Minister mentioned the principle of 'seamless connectivity'. I have talked to the Indian Prime Minister that I will apply his co mments to the theme of the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand, which will be a period of change, including opening up more scope for BIMSTEC member states. This is considered an initial guideline for discussions within the framework of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers to pave the way for the Prime Ministers of BIMSTEC member states to work together in the future. For the meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister, there was a wide discussion for the mutually beneficial results of Thailand and India, including the development of joint military potential, both in the cooperation of military exercises between Thailand and India, the exchange of information that we would like to see covering the entire system, leading to analysis and application for the benefit of security cooperation, including cooperation in military equipment, which is an important goal of Mr. Settha Thavisin, the Prime Minister, because Thailand has the potential to develop military equipment, which India itself has a lot of potential in this ar ea. The tourism sector also sees the importance of Thailand and India having a visa-free agreement, which is a key factor in promoting public tourism, which will create connections between the public and business sectors, including the exchange of Digital Nomads. Both India and Thailand still have a lot of potential in this regard. The various policies will be translated into practice or to create tangible results, which depends on the role and potential of business people. Therefore, both sides see the importance of emphasizing the importance and cooperation of the business sector, which is a key policy of Prime Minister Settha who wants to see the potential of business people in both countries leading to more tangible results. In terms of trade and investment, we can increase the trade area between the two countries. I have invited Indian investors to invest more in Thailand in many fields, such as EV, economy, and digital. In terms of education, India has potential educational institutions and there is a mutual agreement to cooperate in education, especially in promoting educational institutions to do business together in education. He also talked about Thailand's role as a connecting point. Both Thailand and India are members of various groups and can cooperate within the framework of other groups, especially BRICS, which has asked for India's cooperation in supporting Thailand to become a full member of the BRICS group within this year, which Dr. Supramnayam Jaishankara will discuss with the Indian Prime Minister. Source: Thai News Agency