India approves signing of new air agreement with Laos
India approves signing of new air agreement with Laos
The Indian Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the signing of an Air Service s Agreement between India and Laos last week.
The move will promote air connectivity, besides trade and investment, between the two countries, a ccording to a recent release published by the Press Trust of India .
Under the agreement, the designated airlines of India and Laos would have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes. The routes and frequ encies would be decided subsequently.
The agreement was expected to drive greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector, the release said.
It will provide an enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while offering commercial opportunities to the carriers of both sides ensuring greater safety and se curity.
Since Mr Modi's visit to Laos, a number of new initiatives have been taken to promote people-to-people contacts, training and scholarship opportunities, and expansion of private sector participation in trade and investment, as well as in health and education.
India's investment in Laos is around US$150 million with future major ventures to be in the areas of power, tourism and agriculture.
According to the latest official data from Laos' Tourism Development Department, 4,547 Indian tourists travelled to Laos in 2014, a decrease of 0.09 percent from 4,551 in 2013.
Along with the new air service agreement signed with India the country also has agreements with Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Bangkok Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Qantas Airways, Silk Air, China Airlines, Korean Airlines and Eva Airways, along with interline agreements with Hahn Air, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, and Heli Air Monaco.
