Thai-Cambodian border trade thriving

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SURIN, 20 August 2012  – The border trade between Thailand and Cambodia from January to April this year is worth over 26 billion baht, which is an increase of 25.5 percent year-on-year. 

According to Mr. Sittiporn Bangkaew, Director of the Surin Provincial Office of Commercial Affairs, Surin province shares a border of over 120 kilometers with Cambodia at Buachet, Phanom Dong Rak, Kap Choeng and Sangkha districts. He said ahead of the formation of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the border trade in the area has flourished, with approximately 900 million baht being generated each year at the Chong Jom border checkpoint.

As for the overall situation of the Thai-Cambodian border trade, about 70 billion baht was circulated along the border for the whole year of 2011 while more than 26 billion baht has already been seen from January-April this year, up 25.5 percent from the same period last year. Thailand is recording a trade surplus of around 20 billion baht.

Trades over the border have been continuously supported and promoted by Surin province, Mr. Sittiporn said, which is also in line with Thailand’s commercial policy aiming to strengthen bilateral trade relations with its neighbors and other nations in the ASEAN region.

Mr. Sittiporn said in addition that trade, tourism and investment conferences have also been set up in Cambodia in a bid to raise understanding among stakeholders and reduce business barriers between the two countries.