Bangkok: India has a strategic position in South Asia and it can become a gateway for Thailand in the region, a Thai Minister said in Bangkok as the two countries began negotiating 5,600 items in the second phase of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The first phase of the 82 items under the Early Harvest Scheme of the India-Thailand FTA came into effect from September this year.

"This is a perfect time when Thailand is advocating 'look west policy' and India its 'look east policy," Thai Vice Minister for Commerce Parnpree Bahiddha Nukara told the India-Thai Business Forum last night (Oct 7, 2004) referring to the interest both the countries have expressed in recent times in trading with each other's region.

With Thailand's strategic location in South East Asia, the country can become a vital base for India for its trading in ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region, Parnpree noted.

Referring to the next phase in consideration of items under FTA, Parnpree said with 5,600 items to be negotiated, the negotiating team from both the countries would try to keep sensitive products to the lowest level position.

"We will ensure that the items on the normal track will be useful to both the sides," he told the gathering of top businessmen and executives.