New Delhi, Oct 7 (Inditop.com) Thai Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu says his country is interested in participating in India’s roads and highway projects, but finds the bidding clauses too complex to encourage international players.
“Infrastructure is one area where we are very much interested to participate, especially the roads and highways project in India. However the bidding process is complex and does not encourage international players,” Korbsak Sabhavasu told reporters here.
“In fact the whole bidding process is such that it encourages only domestic players and not so open for the international players,” the senior minister, also tipped to become the next prime minister of Thailand, said on the margins of a conference here.
The minister said he will take up the issue with Road, Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath. “I will be meeting the Indian minister so that we can find out a way on how to participate in the roads and highways projects in India.”
According to the Thai minister, bilateral trade between the two countries, which stood at $6 billion in 2008 with a target of $10 billion by 2011, would expand further when they expand their free trade pact to include services and investment.
“At present, both the countries are engaged in lifting the free trade agreement into a comprehensive pact and include services and investments,” he told another event, which was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
“This will further boost the growth in trade and investment.”
He said Thailand held the largest concentration of Indian companies after Britain, while India was among the top 10 nations that contributed to the country’s tourism sector – the lifeline for the Southeast Asian nation.
