BANGKOK, 25 September 2015 – Thai-Malaysian border trade was raised to a meeting of the committee in charge of border trade and investment promotion with neighbouring countires today after exports of Thai rubber and electronic products have dropped, Minister of Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn revealed.
Trade barriers between Thailand and Malaysia was the main issue discussed at the meeting as the Thai-Malaysian border trade accounted for fifty percent of the total border trade revenue that Thailand made in a year. In 2015, border trade is set to bring in to the country a total of 1.5 trillion baht.
The minister said that the committee is set to make a field trip to Songkhla to look into and solve the problems collaboratively with other units. She pointed out that some problems could be solved in a short period such as the establishment of Duty Free Zone, the setting up of new tax refund points at Sadao border crossing and extension of the border closing time, etc.
The minister emphasized that all of the problems would not be solved without integreted cooperation of all units. She hoped the meeting would be a good chance for Thailand to develop its efficiency in response to the arrival of ASEAN Community that is to start with ful effect on 1 January 2016.
