January 30, 2002

‘13’

INDO-THAI SCIENTIFIC TIES TO LOOK UP

   India and Thailand will be signing an agreement on cooperation in science and technology during the visit of the Thai Prime Minister Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra to New Delhi on Friday. It would be signed between the Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and the Thai Foreign Minister in the presence of the Prime Ministers of the two countries. The agreement would also cover technology transfer and environmental collaboration. Signing of a formal agreement will go a long way in strengthening Indo-Thai scientific cooperation, which was a low key affair so far.

    Joint research development and design projects, exchange of mutual research findings and scientists, exchange of information and technology on pollution control and waste and environmental management, would form the basis of the accord. The two countries are also slated to sign an agreement on cooperation in the field of space and space applications, especially remote sensing.

    This will be the second visit of the Thai Prime Minister to New Delhi in two months. Mr. Shinawatra was very impressed by his visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation and Hindustan Aeronauticals Limited when he came in November last year. Thailand is keen on expanding and further strengthening relations with India in various fields besides science and technology and wants to be India’s close partner.