Visitors throng Thailand Trade Fair in Bangalore

A three-day Thai exhibition to improve bilateral trade ties between Thailand and India concluded here today.

Visitors were enthralled by a wide variety of items in the 25 stalls put in the trade fair, ranging from jewellery, footwear, decorative items to eateries.

"There are lots of fresh juices and natural pulp kind of juices so that you can enhance the flavours. There are very nice cute dolls, the artificial jewellery and the real gem stones, which are very expensive and the accessories suits the needs, whatever the ladies are interested in," said Anisha, a visitor.

The first two days of the exhibition were reserved for display of the products, and sale of these items was opened on the last day of the event.

The sellers from Thailand felt that it was a great opportunity for their market to be spreading wings in India.

"This is the first time that we have come here to Bangalore, India. Our policy is that we would like to expand in the overseas market and last our company expanded to Indonesian market and the ASEAN market already. And right now this is why we would like to try to Indian market. And I think it is a big opportunity for the Thailand market," said Tania, the owner of a toy stall.

The two Asian countries have maintained diplomatic relations since India gained Independence from the British rule in 1947.

India and Thailand have worked towards strengthening their trade relations in the past few years. Thailand is aiming at increasing trade with India to 16 billion $ by 2014.

According to media reports, bilateral trade between Thailand and India grew substantially in the last 15 years, reaching 8.6 billion $ in 2012.

India is in a free trade agreement (FTA) with ASEAN countries since 2010 that facilitates trade between the ASEAN countries, including Thailand.