Thailand to open more border crossings

BANGKOK, June 24 (TNA) - Thailand plans to open more border crossings to boost trade with neighbouring countries, four each with Cambodia and Malaysia, six with Myanmar and 11 with Laos. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists on Monday that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called a meeting with provincial governors early this week to discuss the opening of the 28 new border crossings to further boost border trade by 10-20 per cent annually from the present level of one trillion baht yearly. According to the Thai deputy premier, three of the planned border crossings have been opened so far, while the remaining 25 comprise four each with Cambodia and Malaysia, six with Myanmar and 11 with Laos. The deputy prime minister acknowledged that the delayed opening of the remaining border crossings has resulted from unfinished demarcation and construction of roads and he raised the problems with officials from agencies concerned, namely the Ministries of Interior and Finance, at a meeting held earlier in the day, and that he will later inform the prime minister of the possibility to open the remaining border crossings this year and afterwards. In another development, the Thai deputy premier foresaw that agenda of the upcoming Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Brunei late this month should include the regional haze problem and he plans to propose rainmaking as a solution. (TNA)