Bangkok, July 28: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is expected to sign a free trade agreement with Thailand during his visit to the country in October, a Thai minister said today. Vajpayee will be in Thailand Oct. 9-12 to sign the agreement covering food, rubber, leather goods, furniture, construction materials, vehicles and parts, and tourism, said Vachara Phanchet, a vice minister for the Thai Prime Minister's office. The agreement is aimed at boosting trade between Thailand and India which currently amounts to US$1.1 billion a year, he said. Vachara said the government will lead a group of Thai executives to India August 5-10 to strengthen business ties between the two countries.

During the trip, companies including seafood product exporter Thai Union Frozen Products , trading firm Loxley PCL and auto-part maker Thai summit group are likely to sign business deals with Indian companies.
Bureau Report