Monday, August 7 2006 16:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Thailand's national carrier Thai Airlines is going to take over the management of Bangladesh's Chittagong airport on Sep 1, visiting Thai Foreign Minister Kantahi Suphamongkhon announced here.

Chittagong in southern Bangladesh has the country's premier port and the Shah Amanat International Airport serves as the link to southeast Asia.

"We (would) like to enhance cooperation in tourism, trade, investment, energy, gas and garment sectors," he told reporters after official talks with Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan.

Suphamongkhon also announced that Thailand would open a new airport in Bangkok on Sep 28 to increase flights between the two countries, UNB news agency reported.

The handing over of the airport to Thai Airlines has not been a smooth affair for Bangladesh authorities. A local political row in Chittagong had delayed the takeover of the port city airport by the Thai Airlines.

Morshed Khan said these 'irritants' should not stand in the way of international trade, The Daily Star newspaper said.

Suphamongkhon said Bangladesh and Thailand have a lot of business and investment opportunities. They would also cooperate through multilateral forums like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.