Alongkorn leaves for Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City to boost trade

NONTHABURI, Aug 28 -- Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot left Saturday on a three-day visit to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, aimed at boosting trade with the two neighbouring countries.

During the visit, Mr Alongkorn said prior to his departure, he will inspect road transport and logistics development linking the two countries including transport systems, warehousing facilities and customs procedures.

Mr Alongkorn said he would also try to develop Thailand’s trade with the two countries as part of an implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) scheduled to be launched in 2015.

Also, he said he would survey proposed locations for special economic zones at the Thai border districts of  Watthana Nakhon and Aranyaprathet.

The special economic zones will benefit both Thailand and Cambodia in terms of trade and tourism, Mr Alongkorn said.

During the first seven months this year, combined trade between Thailand and Cambodia totaled US$1.61 billion, up 76.1 per cent from the corresponding period of 2009. Thailand enjoyed a trade surplus of about US$1.3 billion.

Trade between Thailand and Vietnam between January-July this year totaled US$3.9 billion, an increase of 27 per cent from the same period last year, with Thailand enjoying a trade surplus of US$2.4 billion. (MCOT online news)