On 3 – 6 September 2023, Ms. Acharapan Yavaprapas, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata visited Port Blair, Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) with an aim to deepen ties and networks with local government authorities and private sector in order to promote cooperation in the areas of economics, trade, investment and people-to-people exchange. Consul-General paid courtesy calls and had discussions with Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (Retd.), Lieutenant Governor of ANI, Shri Keshav Chandra, Chief Secretary of ANI, and executive committee and members of Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Consul-General exchanged views on the opportunities and potentials in promoting cooperation between Thailand and ANI, which are close neighbours with about 500 km distance from the nearest points. ANI also situates in a strategic location that links the Malacca Strait to the Indian Ocean and possesses abundant marine resource and eco-tourism destinations. The ANI side highlighted several high-potential areas that it can cooperate with Thailand; namely, fishery industry development, seafood export, import of fresh agricultural produces from Thailand, investment in hospitality industry, promotion of cruise circuit tourism in the Andaman Sea, and exploring a possibility to establish air connectivity between Port Blair and Thailand. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to revitalise the existing cooperation mechanisms; namely, the Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation between Phuket Province and City of Port Blair, and the Memorandum of Understanding between Phuket Chamber of Commerce and ACCI.

On this occasion, Consul-General also paid study visits to local companies to explore trade and business opportunities; namely, Riflex Industries Pvt. Ltd. (Coconut-based), Era Fishery Products Pvt Ltd. (Dollygung), and Makruzz Catamaran Vessel of Mak Logistics Pvt. Ltd.