On the road to greater prosperity

Anil Wadhwa, the Indian ambassador to Thailand, is inviting Thais and other Asean nationals to join the Asean-India car rally 2012, which takes place from November 25 to December 20.

The event is one of two that will mark the 20th anniversary of Asean-India relations, with the other being the voyage of INS Sudarshini to Asean countries.

“This year is the 20th anniversary of our relationship, so we want to hold a special commemorative summit hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 20 and 21 in New Delhi”, says the ambassador. “Leaders of all the 10 Asean counties have been invited to attend.”

“In the run-up to the summit, we’re organising a number of marker events, with emphasis on the connectivity between India and the Asean countries. Hence, we have these two major events.

“For the car rally, we will have 31 SUVs donated by an Indian car company, with a total of 134 participants from eight Asean countries and India. The rally will pass through Thailand twice because of its central location, entering Hat Yai on November 29 from Malaysia, and then Phuket on November 30.

“The rally will start in Jarkata, Indonesia, where the Asean headquarters is situated, and will then go on to Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. To complete the Bangkok sector on December 2, there will be a symbolic flag ceremony and send-off by the Thai prime minister.

“From Bangkok, the rally will go to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam before returning to Thailand, where it will then go head north to Sukhothai, into Myanmar and finally India’s Assam state, covering more than 8,000 kilometres.

“We hope this rally will signify how close we are and how important the connectivity is. Thai people and companies wanting to join the rally can contact the Thai Foreign Ministry, which is working us on this event.

“Around the rally, there are a number of events built in. For example, in Phuket I will be hosting an event alongside provincial governor, and in Bangkok there will be cultural performances and food festivals.

“For the business community, we’re planning a large event for Indian businessmen from the northeast region, which borders Myanmar, to meet their counterparts here on December 3 in Bangkok. Again, we want to emphasise the theme of connectivity and how close India’s northeastern region is to Thailand.

“In addition, our ministers for agriculture, forestry and commerce will have meetings here, as will think-tanks, artists and others, to boost people-to-people contact.

“The December 20-21 summit in New Delhi will focus on the theme of shared prosperity between India and Asean. 

“On the trilateral highway project involving India, Myanmar and Thailand, things are progressing well. It will start in the northeast of India, leading into Myanmar and then northern Thailand.

“The total length of the highway is 1,600 kilometres, with 71 bridges to be constructed. The Indian government has already invested US$257 million in building our section of the trilateral highway, and India has provided a grant and credit line of $500 million to Myanmar to built its section, while the Thai government will be responsible for its section of 83 kilometres.

“Overall, the three-nation highway will offer seamless connectivity and become operational in 2016.”