Thailand and India are discussing the possibility of a joint venture in defence manufacturing ahead of a proposed visit by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to the South Asian country later this year.
Wrapping up a three-day visit to Bangkok, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told government officials on Monday that India wants to go beyond current joint naval exercises and move into defence manufacturing, according to India's PTI news service.
During her visit, Ms Swaraj co-chaired the Joint Commission Meeting between the two countries after a break of three years and wide-ranging discussions were held on economic and commercial cooperation, culture, science and technology, agriculture, legal and consular matters.
The two sides signed several agreements, including a double-taxation avoidance treaty, and finalised the extradition treaty drafted in 2013, which provides for extradition of criminal fugitives.
An Indian official called the double-tax treaty significant as there are about 60 Indian companies in Thailand and several Thai firms operating in India.
A trilateral highway project between India, Thailand and Myanmar also was discussed. The project, first targeted for completion as early as 2017, now is set for 2019.
On defence, Thailand and India currently run joint exercises and sea patrols near their international maritime border to counter terrorism, piracy and smuggling. The two countries also cooperate on officer training and participate as observers in military exercises.
A bilateral agreement on defence cooperation was signed in January 2012and the relationship grew at the third India-Thailand Defence Dialogue in New Delhi in May 2014.