Regional trade fair in Thai Far South proclaimed successful

BANGKOK, July 24 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce has maintained its target that the country's border trade growth should reach 15 per cent year-on-year on average in 2018, totaling about 1.5 trillion baht. Wanchai Varavithya, Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Foreign Trade, told journalists on Tuesday the official target was based on the fact that Thailand's total border trade reached 678.62 billion baht during the first half of this year, or an about 6.78 per cent year-on-year increase, with the Thai side's gaining a trade surplus of about 92.48 billion baht. According to the senior official, Thailand's border trade with Malaysia was on the top of the list during the first half of this year, standing at about 278.34 billion baht, followed by border trade with Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia at 107.74 billion baht, 97.27 billion baht and 70.37 billion baht respectively. The senior official cautioned, however, that there are remaining risk factors against Thailand's border trade growth, including impacts from unstable foreign exchange rates, elections in some countries and the ongoing trade war between the United States and major trading partners. (TNA)