Consulate General of Thailand, Chennai
{{Short description|Diplomatic mission of Thailand in South India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox official post
|post = Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chennai
|body =
|native_name = {{lang|th|สถานกงสุลใหญ่ไทย ณ เมืองเจนไน}}
{{lang|ta|தாய்லாந்துத் துணைதூதரகம், சென்னை}}
|insignia = Emblem of Thailand.svg
|insigniasize = 120px
|insigniacaption = Thai Garuda emblem
|department = Ministry of Foreign Affairs
|image =
|alt =
|incumbent = Racha Aribarg
|incumbentsince = 2024
|style = Consul-General
|residence =
|nominator =
|nominatorpost =
|appointer =
|appointerpost =
|termlength =
|inaugural = Suphot Yanthukij
|formation = 2005
|last =
|abolished =
|succession =
|salary =
|website = {{Official|https://www.thaiconsulategeneralchennai.com/index.php}}
}}
The Consulate General of Thailand in Chennai is the mission of Thailand in South India representing the interests of the Thai government in the region. The other missions in the country are the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi and the Royal Thai Consulates General in Kolkata and Mumbai. The Chennai Consulate covers the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala. The current Consul General is Racha Aribarg. He succeeds Nitirooge Phoneprasert.
Location
The chancery premises of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chennai is located at No.116, Chamiers Road, Nandanam, Chennai. with effect from 1 November 2018. Earlier, the chancery, along with the Thai Trade Office, was located at No.116, Chamiers Road, Nandanam, Chennai.{{cite web| title =Thai agencies in India| publisher =Thai-India Business Information Center| url =http://www.thaiindia.net/en/thai-agencies-in-india.html| access-date =16 Feb 2012| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120129053022/http://www.thaiindia.net/en/thai-agencies-in-india.html| archive-date =2012-01-29}}
History
Plans to establish a Royal Thai Consulate General in Chennai were implemented in 2003.{{cite news
| title = Thailand plans consulate in Chennai
| location = Chennai
| date = 18 May 2003
| url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/18/stories/2003051802300600.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030903134824/http://hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/18/stories/2003051802300600.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 September 2003
| newspaper = The Hindu
| access-date = 16 Feb 2012}} The consulate was completed in late 2005.{{cite web
| title = 60 Years of Friendship, Thailand–India
| url = http://www.diplomatist.com/pdf/thailand.pdf
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012
| archive-date = 16 February 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100216023847/http://www.diplomatist.com/pdf/thailand.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}
In November 2005, the Consulate General in Chennai opened the first Thailand Visa Application Centre in the city located at Mount Road, Teynampet.{{cite web
| title = Thailand Visa Application Centre At Chennai
| publisher = Business Traveller
| date = December 2005
| url = http://www.businesstravellerindia.com/200512/newsstation06.shtml
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}{{cite news
| title = Thailand visa application centre opened in Chennai
| location = Chennai
| date = 10 November 2005
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/10/stories/2005111015270700.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060526113110/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/10/stories/2005111015270700.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 26 May 2006
| newspaper = The Hindu
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}} A new visa application center was inaugurated by Consul-General Krongkanit Rakcharoen at Egmore in 2018.{{cite news
| last = BW Online Bureau
| title = CKGS Opens Thai Visa Application Centre in Chennai
| newspaper = BWHotelier
| location = Chennai
| date = 17 May 2018
| url = http://bwhotelier.businessworld.in/article/CKGS-Opens-Thai-Visa-Application-Centre-in-Chennai/17-05-2018-149523/
| access-date = 21 November 2020}}
On 8 October 2006, the Consulate General founded the Thai Student Associations Bangalore (ThaiSAB), a non-profit voluntary union of Thai students pursuing academic and research disciplines around Bangalore.{{cite web| title =About Us| publisher =ThaiSAB| url =http://www.thaisab.in/?page_id=7| access-date =14 Feb 2012| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120215005641/http://www.thaisab.in/?page_id=7| archive-date =2012-02-15}}
List of consuls general
- Mr. Suphot Yanthukij
- Mr. Chanchai Charanvatnakit
- Mr. Somsak Triamjangarun
- Mrs. Krongkanit Rakcharoen (–2019) (First female consul general)
- Mr. Nitirooge Phoneprasert (2019–2024){{cite news
| title = Consul General calls for stronger ties between industries in Coimbatore and Thailand
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 31 January 2020
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/consul-general-calls-for-stronger-ties-between-industries-in-coimbatore-and-thailand/article30696271.ece
| access-date = 21 November 2020}}
- Mr. Racha Aribarg (August 2024–Present)
Functions
In 2009, the Chennai Consulate General issued nearly 300 visas a day, while the Embassy at New Delhi ranked top by processing 600 visas per day. The Chennai Consulate General contributed nearly 20 percent of the annual flow to Thailand.{{cite news
| title = Thai Tourism woos India
| newspaper = News Today
| date = 8 July 2009
| url = http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=18032%20&%20section=9
| access-date = 29 Feb 2012
}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
The Consulate General has under its control the visa application centres located at Chennai, Hyderabad,{{cite news
| title = Visa centre for Thailand opens in Hyderabad
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Hyderabad
| date = 3 June 2011
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2073377.ece
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}} Bangalore,{{cite news
| title = Getting Thai Visa in India becomes more convenient
| newspaper = Thaindian
| date = 19 November 2007
| url = http://www.thaindian.com/news-snippet/getting-thai-visa-in-india-becomes-more-convenient-4468.html
| access-date = 16 Feb 2012
| archive-date = 1 May 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080501174530/http://www.thaindian.com/news-snippet/getting-thai-visa-in-india-becomes-more-convenient-4468.html
| url-status = dead
}} and Kochi,{{cite news
| last = Sengar
| first = Resham
| title = Thai visa application centres in India are now 13 in number!
| newspaper = Times Travel
| location =
| date = 25 November 2017
| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/thai-visa-application-centres-in-india-are-now-13-in-number/as61356432.cms
| access-date = 22 October 2021}} with the Chennai Consulate assessing all applications. As of 2011, the Chennai centre was receiving 400 to 600 visa applications per day.{{cite news
| title = Thailand outsources visa applications to VFS Global in Hyderabad
| newspaper = DNA India
| location = Hyderabad
| publisher = DNA India.com
| date = 2 June 2011
| url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_thailand-outsources-visa-applications-to-vfs-global-in-hyderabad_1550403
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}} In October 2022, the Consulate renewed pan-India visa application processing mandate with VFS Global.{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = The Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates renew pan-India visa application processing mandate with VFS Global
| newspaper = Travel Trade Journal
| location =
| date = 4 October 2022
| url = https://traveltradejournal.com/the-royal-thai-embassy-and-consulates-renew-pan-india-visa-application-processing-mandate-with-vfs-global/
| access-date = 21 February 2023}}
Social activities
On 11 October 2010, the Consulate General donated a set of books on cultural history, people, political hierarchy, places and economic significance of Thailand to the Anna Centenary Library at Kotturpuram.{{cite news
| title = Thai consulate donates books to Anna Centenary Library
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 12 October 2010
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article825493.ece
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.thaiembassy.org/chennai/en/ Official website of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chennai]
- [http://www.mfa.go.th/ Kingdom of Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage]
- [http://www.thaiembassy.org/ List of Thai Embassies and Consulates]
{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Diplomatic missions of Thailand}}
{{Diplomatic missions in India}}
Category:India–Thailand relations