TAK, 13 September 2012 – Mae Sot municipality’s mayor Terdkiat Shinsoranan met with Myawaddy border trade chief U Than Sein to discuss the development of a Sister City agreement between the two provinces and the Myawaddy Special Economic Zone.
During a courtesy visit in Mae Sot, Mr U Than Sein and his delegation were welcomed by the Mae Sot mayor and representatives of local government agencies and businesses. The meeting was aimed at increasing cooperation on cross-border trade and investment, ahead of the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
Mr Terdkiat said the municipality plans to encourage further Thai investment in the Myawaddy Special Economic Zone, to promote a free flow of local labour and to boost the tourism industry in both cities. The two border provinces are set to become trading cities in accordance with another future formation of the East-West Economic Corridor, linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
Both sides are expected to hold talks on a monthly basis, with business leaders and politicians from Thailand and Myanmar exchanging views on bilateral trade information and policies.
It is estimated that the trade value between the two countries is approximately 30 billion baht a year.
