THAILAND: The Rail Technology Research & Development Agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with four French companies which are aiming to strengthen their links with Thai partners in what Systra said is ’a context of increasing competition in the region, particularly with Chinese technologies’.
Thailand’s Minister of Transport, Saksayam Chidchob, and the French Ambassador Thierry Mathou attended the signing of the MoU by Egis, Alstom, Poma and Vossloh Cogifer in Bangkok on December 15.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the MoU covers staff development, technology transfer and encouraging local production of parts under a Thai First policy.
‘The government’s plans to develop the rail sector are promising, and it is in our interest to work together with our counterparts’, said Arezki Touat, Managing Director of Systra Asia. ’Our common objective is to ensure that the country modernises its rail network and relies on French know-how, particularly in the high speed sector, where Systra is already active with the high speed line project linking Bangkok to its three airports.’
