Craftsmen weave ties with Thailand .

Guwahati, March 21: Handicrafts of the Northeast is coming in handy in boosting bilateral ties between Thailand and the region.

It was evident from the reactions of the representatives of the Royal Thai government starting with Suthad Setboonsarng, its senior trade adviser, who inaugurated the second edition of Made In North East India (MINEI) 2010 at Bangkok’s Fashion Island Shopping Mall yesterday.

The standalone show on indigenous handicrafts of the Northeast is being organised by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA), North Eastern Region, in association with the development commissioner (handicrafts), Union ministry of textiles.

An impressed Thai customer paid 100 Baht extra while purchasing a Karbi shawl from the lone lady participant, Nichaswari Rabha. People thronged the colourful stall of Khandu Wangchuk from Sikkim who is displaying exquisite Buddhist paintings.

Amen Deka from Barpeta, the organisers said, could not hold back his emotion as he sells his small bamboo replica of a motorcycle at Rs 27,000 within 20 minutes of the exhibition’s inauguration.

“It is a red-letter day in the history of Thailand and Northeast India’s bilateral relationship. The workmanship of the artisans coming from the Land of Seven Sisters is unbelievable. This show should become an annual event to cement the socio-cultural trade relationship between the two regions,” the organisers said in a press note quoting Setboonsarng.

He had special words of appreciation for Manchihan Sasa of Manipur who was displaying clay pottery at the exhibition.

Another senior official, Phummisak Hongsyok, Senator, Royal Thai Parliament, admitted the show was a meeting point of Thailand’s Look West Policy and India’s Look East Policy.

“Being members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, both Thailand and India are going to be largely benefited by exchange of talented craftpersons from both the regions in shows like MINEI 2010,” Hongsyok said.

Tharadol Thongruang, who was earlier with the Thailand embassy in Delhi and now promoted to look after foreign trade in Thailand, was equally euphoric over building of strong branding of Northeast India in Thailand.

The senior diplomat, who attended the opening ceremony, said: “The Northeast has finally arrived in Thailand and the Thai people are looking towards the Northeast for strong socio-cultural and trade ties and the credit goes to the ITFAA for their continuous endeavour.”

Apichat Dumdee, a senior member of Local Chamber of Commerce, felt that apart from trade relation the participating artisans are playing the role of ambassadors of India’s rich cultural and social heritage.

Source : telegraphindia.com