Expo celebrates centennial of 'Surat' ties
The Thai and Indian governments will celebrate the 100th anniversary of relations between the city of Surat in India's Gujarat state and Surat Thani in southern Thailand by organising the Southern International Trade Expo in Surat Thani, which began yeste
After the opening ceremony of the expo, which was attended by the mayor of Surat, Niranjan Zanzmera, and India’s Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Thailand G Balasubramanian, Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said that with closer ties between Thailand and India, two-way trade should grow not less than 8 per cent year on year, worth US$8.6 billion this year.
Chatchai said the four-day expo is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors, including international and local enterprises, as well as business people and locals from 14 provinces in the South.
The expo is expected to generate at least Bt30 million in immediate sales, and up to Bt1.2 billion in one-year orders, he added.
According to the Indian Embassy in Thailand, there is a unique historical connection between Surat in India and Surat Thani in Thailand. History has it that in 1915, King Rama VI was so impressed with the vibrancy of the erstwhile port city of Surat during his visit to India that he went back to Thailand and renamed Chaiya province in Southern Thailand as Surat Thani (city of good people) and the Phum Duang River as Tapi River after the river of the same name in Surat.
Surat, an erstwhile port in the southern province of Gujarat state, has a vibrant trade and cultural history. In early days, Surat was connected with 84 ports across the world and ships from these countries used to arrive in the Tapi River for trade and commerce. Surat Thani, is an important commercial and shipping hub for rubber, marine products and coconut trading.
Historic relations between the two cities were revived with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Surat Thani Chamber of Commerce and the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry on February 24, 2015 during the visit of the Thai ministers of Commerce and Tourism and Sports to India. A proposal for a Sister Cities association between these two cities is also under consideration.
The Southern International Trade Expo is being held to commemorate the centennial celebration of relations between Surat Thani and Surat. The expo will be hosted by the Commerce Ministry and Tourism & Sports Ministry of Thailand in association with the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade of Thailand and Federation of Thai Industry.
The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry will co-host the expo, with some 140 Indian businesspersons and exhibitors expected to take part. The Indian Embassy is setting up a stall to promote the Indian government "Make in India" initiative at the expo.
The commemoration celebrations will include a Surat-Surat Culture and Heritage Show. A 12-member Gujarati folk dance and music troupe "Halar Lok Kala Kendra" has been sponsored by the Indian government to perform at the celebrations.
An official delegation comprising the mayor and municipal commissioner of Surat will be representing the Indian city, along with a 40-member delegation. Exhibitors will showcase products from both India and the South of Thailand, including food products, garments and accessories, health and beauty products, construction materials and houseware, rubber and rubber products, innovative crafts, travel and leisure business and logistics service providers.
The trade exhibition, demonstration and show will be held at Central Plaza, Surat Thani while business-to-business meetings will take |place at Diamond Plaza Hotel, Surat Thani.
