Thailand Urged to Establish Joint SEZs with Bordering Countries

• Sommana Yan
• 5 July 2022
• International News
• 1701 Views

The Thai government is being urged to accelerate the stimulation of border trade and establish joint special economic zones with bordering countries to boost trade and investment.

Surong Bulkul, Vice-Chairman of the Chamber, said it proposed the government speed up the reopening of border checkpoints between Thailand and Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar in order to increase trade, investment and tourism, reported the Bangkok Post on 01 July 1.

He said joint special economic zones with neighbouring countries should start by focusing on food processing industries that could help ease the flow of illegal labour to Thailand, as well as the influx of agricultural products from Thailand’s neighbours.

“Workers from neighbouring countries could work in the zones and return to their homes in the evening, while Thailand could buy the agricultural products for processing in factories, then market them from our neighbours,” said Mr Surong.

Thailand’s border trade shrank by 0.04% year-on-year in the first four months of this year to 314 billion baht​ (US$8.8 billion).

 

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