AEC will help boost Thailand’s cross-border trade

BANGKOK, Dec 12 (TNA) -- The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will help boost revenue Thailand earned from cross-border trade between 5- 10 per cent in 2016, according to the Commerce Ministry. The Ministry said Thailand is expected to earn more than 1.5 trillion baht from cross-border trade in 2015 and the AEC which will be officially implemented from next January 1 will help bolster trade for the kingdom because of the total population of more than 600 million of the regional grouping. The Commerce Ministry which is the government’s sub-committee responsible for public relations and marketing has prepared plans with concerned government agencies to solve trade and investment problems in the government-sponsored special economic zones (SEZs). In an attempt to spur national economy, the government of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has designated SEZs in 10 border provinces, including Tak, Mukdahan, Sa Kaeo, Songkhla, Trat, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, and Narathiwat. A number of light and heavy industries have already constructed factories in the promotional SEZs while there are hopes that that trade with Thailand’s neighbouring countries would flourish in future. (TNA)