Thailand Ambassador to India, Pattarat Hongtong on Tuesday met Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at his office here to discuss possibilities to strengthen business, sports, academic, agriculture and cultural ties between Thailand and Haryana.
During the meeting, Pattarat Hongtong held extensive discussions with the Chief Minister identifying various development avenues between Haryana and Thailand. She especially sought cooperation from the Haryana Government in exploring investment possibilities in the food processing sector.
“As Haryana has one of the highest economic potentials including automobiles and agriculture sector, various exchange programmes can be organized between Thailand and Haryana, asserted Hongtong.
She also showed keen interest in exporting the products produced by Thailand. While expressing investment interest in Haryana, t Hongtong said that possibilities should be explored to strengthen economic growth and investment ties with Haryana for progress with Thailand.
She also showed interest in getting the details about various flagship programmes and initiatives taken by the State Government, after which she was apprised about Parivar Pehchan Patra, the first of its kind ambitious scheme for bringing the benefits of all government welfare schemes under one umbrella.
Under the PPP a system has been created in which each family is identified as a single unit, said Khattar.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government is not just limited to B to B (Business to Business) or G to B (Government to Business) or G to G (Government to Government) relationship, as Haryana is the land of Gita, therefore, we believe in H to H relationship that is Heart to Heart connect.
“India and Thailand have age-old social and cultural ties. I assure complete cooperation from the state government in terms of setting up industries, investment, cultural ties," he said.
The Chief Minister further said that Haryana is a leading state in the country in many spheres. Haryana is the largest manufacturer of cars and other automobiles, along with being the leading agrarian state in India, he added.
“Haryana is one of the major exporters of car/motor vehicles. The state produces two-thirds of passenger cars, 50 percent of tractors and 60 percent of motorcycles manufactured in the country, hence possibilities can be explored in strengthening the investment ties between Haryana and Thailand in this sector, he said.
Khattar further said that bilateral trade in this area may be promoted too. Haryana can offer religious tourism such as "Krishna Circuit" in Kurukshetra, "Cheneti Buddhist Stupa" in Yamunanagar that focuses on providing a glimpse of the scarred land and experience religious, celestial fervour, heritage and culture.
“As Haryana is home to the biggest agricultural university in Asia that is Haryana Agriculture University which provides a robust infrastructure for students and researchers, therefore academic collaboration can be explored in this area through faculty and student exchange programs between both the regions,” he added.
Khattar also apprized the Ambassador that Haryana is one of the key states contributing to the country's food bowl and as Thailand is known as the Kitchen of the World, therefore we will welcome the Thai companies in the food processing sector and explore possibilities of setting up more industries in this sector.