Bullish trade at Thai-Lao border

NAKHON PHANOM, December 18 (TNA) - Trade at duty free markets in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom is now bullish as Laotian traders crossed the Mekong River to buy consumer goods as New Year festival is only two weeks away. Many Laotian traders are seen buying consumer products and electrical appliances at duty free markets in Tha Uthen, That Phanom and Muang districts of Nakhon Phanom province. They did not cross the border empty handed as many carried agricultural products and sold them there too. The duty free markets encourage traders of both countries which share an almost identical language and culture to exchange or buy goods, aimed at strengthening relations between the two nations. Thai traders at the border are now enjoying bullish trade as their monthly revenue has jumped to about 10 million baht, almost double from before due to the upcoming New Year holidays and the scarcity of merchandise earlier because of the severe flood in Thailand. As border trade is active in Nakhon Phanom, authorities there are on the look out for narcotics or contraband goods smuggling from Laos into Thailand. (TNA)