Thailand
Cambodia: Border towns feeling the pinch as business remains elusive
COVID-19 border closures along the Cambodian and Thai border crossing of Poipet have caused serious damage to nearby businesses that were mainly catering to both casinos and travellers.
Strict enforcement has also resulted in many Cambodian workers being captured by Thai authorities after either being stranded or when trying to cross the border to work illegally in Thailand.
Khmer Times visited the border crossing and Poipet city recently and learned that most businesses were quiet and many were closed with only a small number of cargo trucks allowed to cross each day.
Im Theary, a local manager of Crown Crown Coffee II in Poipet, said that many small businesses will have to close or reduce staff because customer numbers have dramatically fallen since the border closures started earlier this year.
“Before the border closures we received many customers, but now we are too quiet and are about to close the business. The remaining customers we do have are from the casinos or local businessmen,” Theary said.
Chhom Phorp, deputy chief of the Immigration Office at the Poipet International Border Checkpoint, said most people here have been struggling since the border between the two nations closed.
Before the closure, there were more than 10,000 people crossing the border every day. However, now Cambodian-Thai authorities will allow only 50 trucks with two drivers each a day to make the crossing.
Cambodians who previously worked in the large markets across the border on the Thai side have been left stranded with their market assets being forced back into Cambodia every day.
“It is difficult to count how many people are sent back from Thailand every day. Some days there are more than 100 people, while some others there are 30 to 40 people and some days none at all,” Phorp said.
“There are also many Cambodian businessmen and migrat workers who have been illegally crossing the border through the O’Bei Choan checkpoints in Banteay Meanchey province looking for work,” he added.
While there is no set date for any full reopening of the border, the Thai provincial governor has stated to local media that he is making exceptions for those who are stranded with assets and need assistance.
Thailand’s Sa Kaeo Provincial Governor Worapan Suwannut told Bangkok Post newspaper that his authorities have agreed to allow Cambodian traders from Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet city to re-enter the Rong Kluea market in Thailand to remove their belongings left behind.
Banteay Meanchey Governor Um Reatrey told Khmer Times that his provincial administration has no authority regarding the opening or closing of the border and it is strictly a Cambodian government decision.
Thailand’s cross-border trade fell by 9.18 percent in the first half of the year, which was attributed to lockdown measures and the slowing economies of neighbouring countries.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50756644/border-towns-feeling-the-pinch-as-business-remains-elusive/