CHIANG RAI, Feb 22 – Thai-Burmese border trade at the Mae Sai-Ta Chi Lek customs checkpoint in the northern province of Chiang Rai is projected to grow 15 per cent this year after Myanmar eased import regulations.
Chakkrit Utanesut, assistant to the customs chief at Mae Sai said that in 2012 the value of trade was estimated at around one billion baht a month or about 12 billion baht for the entire year. About 90 per cent are exports, mostly fuel, construction materials and consumer goods, and the rest are imports.
This year the overall value of trade is expected to grow about 15 per cent following more relaxed import regulations in Myanmar, which caused people there to consume new goods.
The Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce believes that Thai-Myanmar-Chinese border trade through Thachilek-Keng Tung-Mong La–Xishuangbanna, passing Mae Sai, will continue to grow steadily.
In the future, border trade in Mae Sai district is expected to reach 2-3 billion baht a month.
Now that Myanmar is open for tourism, Thai nationals with border passes can stay in Myanmar for 15 days and can travel to Keng Tung in Myanmar’s Shan State, a popular destination among Thai tourists.
Thai investors are interested in Myanmar’s more than 53 million person market and low wage rates, which is about 60-70 baht daily at the border.
