Thailand
Thai border crossing upgrade
Thailand will upgrade a temporary border crossing in Khlong Hat district in Sa Kaeo Province to a permanent checkpoint to boost border trade and security in the region.
Sa Kaeo governor Klanarong Pongcharoen, was quoted in the Bangkok Post, as saying that the sub-committee on border checkpoints under the National Security Council had approved the upgrade in principle and forwarded the matter to the Thai Interior Ministry, which would seek cabinet approval.
“If approved, the upgrade of the Ban Khao Din border checkpoint will be announced in the Royal Gazette,” Mr Klanarong said.
The new permanent border crossing would boost trade between Sa Kaeo and Cambodia’s Battambang province and help with overcrowding at the Klong Luek checkpoint.
Lim Heng, vice-president of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the move. He said most Cambodian agriculture is based on neighbouring countries’ markets. “It is good to have a permanent checkpoint,” he said.
He said it would develop the market and economy along the countries’ border.
He said the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia was good. Thailand agreed to requests on trade issues and the Cambodian side worked with them both in the private sector and with the government.
“Our chamber of commerce also has a good relationship with the Thailand Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Mekong Sub-Region committee and the Regional Business Council between Cambodia and Thailand,” Mr Heng said.
“We can handle border issues immediately.”
When Sa Kaeo has been developed as a special economic zone, border trade between the two countries is expected to increase by at least $1.75 billion a year.
Tourist arrivals are expected to be 850,000 per year, he said.
Source: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39429/thai-border-crossing-upgrade/