TAK, 8 June 2012 – The Mae Sot-based Customs Office has indicated the Thai-Burmese border trade in the first five months this year has reached 21 billion baht, adding that Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Thailand also helps boost the trade.
The Customs Office revealed that the amount of border trade at Mae Sot has been expanding and the value from January to May was worth more than 21 billion baht, or around 20-30% increase year-on-year. It is expected that the trading value will be well above 30 billion baht this year, the highest since the Mae Sot check point was open.
The office commented that the recent visit of Democracy Leader Aung San Suu Kyi to Thailand could help boost the border trade, saying the visit, including her program in Tak Province, creates good image to the relationships of both nations.
Top Thai export products across the border are fuel and consumer products, while innovative products, wood furniture, and cattle are top import products. The Mae Sot-based Customs Office expects the trading value to exceed 50 billion baht when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is established in 2015.
The Mae Sot border is a strategic place between Thailand and Myanmar. The ASEAN East-West Economic Corridor logistics line also runs across the area.
