During 14 – 18 December 2022, H.E. Ms.Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India, paid an official visit to the State of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry. The purpose of the official visit is to pay courtesy call on leading officials at the State Government and to pay a site visit and help mitigate challenges faced by the Thai private sector in the area. Some of the highlights of the trip are as follows:

On 15th December, H.E. the Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Thiru M.K. Stalin, Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Both sides exchanged views on the excellent state of bilateral relationship between Thailand and India in all dimensions, and especially with regards to economics, religion, and culture with Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people that have existed for thousands of years. On this occasion, H.E. the Ambassador extended appreciation to the State Government of Tamil Nadu for the support extended to the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chennai, especially for this year as Thailand and India celebrated 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. On Tamil Nadu Government’s part, Honorable Chief Minister also wished that new cooperation can be initiated between two countries in ecology and forest management, the two areas of which Thailand is immensely popular and well-experienced in.

On 14 December 2022, H.E. the Ambassador visited Saveetha Dental College, a part of Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science in Chennai, to witness the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the College and the Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, Thailand. This MoU will open new possibilities for the exchange of expertise, researchers, and Dental students between the two institutions. Saveetha Dental College is one of the most prestigious dental institutions in India, having recently attained ranking No.1 from the National Institutional Ranking Framework of India, and No.18 from QS World University Ranking by subject in 2022.

Apart from the above, H.E. the Ambassador also paid a site visit to 2 Thai investments in Tamil Nadu – CPF India, manufacturer of animal feeds and shrimp aquaculture for 27 years in India, and Thai Summit, motorcycle parts manufacturer and supplier for Yamaha and Royal Enfield. During these site visits, H.E. the Ambassador had the opportunity to converse with the Thai teams at these respective companies to hear and help mitigate challenges they faced.

Before returning to New Delhi, H.E. the Ambassador also had the opportunity to visit the Union Territory of Puducherry to study local culture and multiculturalism that have so harmoniously existed since the handover by the French in 1954, and the ongoing mission to promote French cultural and architectural heritage in the area.