BANGKOK, 1 May 2015 – The Cabinet has approved the opening of the Singkhon special border checkpoint in Prachuap Khiri Khan province in the hope to stimulate the economy in the border area.
Deputy Government Spokesman Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaeokamnerd said the Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Interior to issue a ministerial announcement detailing clear operational guidelines for people, vehicles and goods passing the border checkpoint. The announcement was expected to also provide guidelines for prevention of problems that might occur, the deputy spokesman said.
Prachuap Khiri Khan province was instructed to develop a mechanism to control and tackle possible effects on national security after the border checkpoint was opened. If the province needed to construct anything or arrange activities at the border zone, it should ask the Royal Thai Survey Department and the Royal Thai Armed Forces to check information before proceeding, Maj.Gen. Sansern said.
The Cabinet approved the establishment of the special border checkpoint despite the problem of demarcation at the border zone. The prime minister did not want such problem to be obstruction of trade and investment promotion in the area, said the deputy spokesman.
The government believed that the checkpoint would make the area’s border trade value leap and facilitate both Thai and Myanmar businesses more efficiently, the deputy spokesman added.
After the border checkpoint is opened, Myanmar people can travel to Prachuap Khiri Khan province and stay in Thailand for one night by using only their passport and temporary border pass.
