Key Agreements Between India and Thailand: Overview

Key Agreements Between India and Thailand: Overview

Question: Recently, MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Thailand. Discuss the key agreements which formed the outcome of her visit.

- Both the MEA and FM of Thailand signed the agreed minutes of the seventh meeting of the Thailand-India Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation

- Then there was a Verbal of Exchange of Instruments of Ratification of the Treaty on Extradition : This treaty provides the legal framework for seeking extradition of fugitive offenders such as those involving terrorism, economic offences, transnational crimes etc. Treaty also makes provisions for the extradition of any person wanted for trial or sentence imposition in one contracting state and found in another contracting state’s territory. This will assist in the extradition of fugitives and strengthen the relations between law enforcement agencies through legal basis for cooperation

- MoU on the Establishment of Nalanda University: This was signed by the Indian MEA and the Thai FM making Thailand join other EAS nations in the establishment of Nalanda University

- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and

- The Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on Income: This provides the framework to avoid double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion regarding taxes on income to promote bilateral economic cooperation

- MoU between Ministry of AYUSH, the Government of the Republic of India and

- Rangsit University, Thailand on the Establishment of the "Academic Chair” in Ayurveda

Facts and Stats

- Both countries are important regional partners linking South and Southeast Asia. There is close cooperation between the 2 in the ASEAN, East Asia Summit (EAS) and BIMSTEC groupings as also Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

- The India-ASEAN Agreement on Trade in Goods involving the 2 nations was implemented in January 2010

- The India-ASEAN FTA in Services and Investments relevant to nations in this region such as Thailand was signed in September 2014