Thailand pushes for ‘Pracha Rat’ cross-border markets

NONTHABURI, May 26 (TNA) – The Thai Commerce Ministry instructed its provincial offices to survey all cross-border markets as parts of its plan to turn them into the “Pracha Rat” markets where the selling of local products is expected to boost border trade. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the Department of International Trade and commerce offices in the provinces bordering Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia, were asked to conduct surveys in preparation for the development of the Pracharat markets. She believed that the project will help to expand distribution channels of local producers and to woo more foreign buyers from neighboring countries, which could eventually give the value of cross-border trade a boost. Initially, Thailand and Laos agreed to build the Pracharat markets in their border areas. The two countries expected to increase their cross-border trade to 10 billion US dollars in five years. The Pracha Rat (people's state) strategy aims to strengthen the country's economy at the grassroots level and empower local communities and local enterprises. The Pracha Rat model means the people, the government and businesses must work closely together to pursue sustainable development and help farmers, workers and communities secure their livelihoods. Under the model, the relationship between the people, the state, and businesses should be "horizontal", which means they should be equal, and support and encourage each other to achieve their aims. (TNA)