Commerce Ministry to boost export to neighboring countries

NONTHABURI, July 31 (TNA) – The Commerce Ministry plans to boost the value of border trade in the second half of this year with trade fairs, new markets and more border trade checkpoints. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said such export campaigns would concern products highly demanded by Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. More activities would occur in border areas to promote the export. They would include new markets and new border trade passes to encourage people from the neighboring countries to cross the border and buy Thai products. The minister said that their demands were rising every year. The border trade value reached 531 billion baht in the first half of this year, rising 5.1%. It consisted of 331 billion baht worth of Thai export, increasing 9.76%, and 200 billion baht worth of imports, falling 1.80%. Thailand posted a border trade surplus worth 131 billion baht. According to the commerce minister, Malaysia posted the highest border trade value with Thailand, with 276 billion baht rising 13.91%. Thailand posted a border trade surplus worth 39 billion baht with Malaysia. The second biggest border trading partner was Laos with the border trade value of 101 billion baht, rising 1.56%. Thailand had a border trade surplus worth 31 billion baht. The value of border trade with Myanmar was 90 billion baht, dropping 7.59%, and that with Cambodia stood at 64 billion baht declining by 3.20%. (TNA)