ARANYAPRATHET, Nov 7 (TNA) -- Most Cambodian traders are now accepting cash only from their Thai counterparts as they closely monitor tensions between the two neighbouring countries after ambassadors have been recalled following the appointment of convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser by the Cambodian government.
Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot Saturday visited the key border district of Aranyaprathet and found that border trade was still lively as more than 9,000 Cambodian traders crossed the border for trading purposes or for employment at Thai firms.
However, most of the Cambodian traders would not offer credit to Thais traders but would accept only cash.
On the contrary, the number of Thai gamblers who usually cross to the casinos in the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet, opposite Aranyaprathet--usually more than 5,000 on typical weekend day--fell sharply Saturday due to concerns over the political situation. Less than 1,000 gamblers went there on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Santi Villassakdanon, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), speaking in Pattaya resort that most Thai businessmen operating in Cambodia worry that if the situation worsens, cross-border trade could close.
Cross-border trade between the two countries now accounts for about 80 per cent of the total trade amounting to approximately Bt40 billion annually.
Governments of the two countries must quickly negotiate to settle the dispute so that the private sector would not be affected, said Mr Santi.
In the northeastern province of Buri Ram bordering Cambodia, Ratchapol Tranakyos, chairman of the Buri Ram Chamber of Commerce, said the trade and tourism businesses between the two countries had already been affected as tourists were not confident of their safety, while traders slowed their purchases.
Mr Ratchapol said attempts by the Buri Ram chamber to open a permanent border checkpoint in Ban Kruat district aimed at boosting trade and investment would now have to be delayed until diplomatic relations between the two countries are restored.
Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot Saturday visited the key border district of Aranyaprathet and found that border trade was still lively as more than 9,000 Cambodian traders crossed the border for trading purposes or for employment at Thai firms.
However, most of the Cambodian traders would not offer credit to Thais traders but would accept only cash.
On the contrary, the number of Thai gamblers who usually cross to the casinos in the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet, opposite Aranyaprathet--usually more than 5,000 on typical weekend day--fell sharply Saturday due to concerns over the political situation. Less than 1,000 gamblers went there on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Santi Villassakdanon, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), speaking in Pattaya resort that most Thai businessmen operating in Cambodia worry that if the situation worsens, cross-border trade could close.
Cross-border trade between the two countries now accounts for about 80 per cent of the total trade amounting to approximately Bt40 billion annually.
Governments of the two countries must quickly negotiate to settle the dispute so that the private sector would not be affected, said Mr Santi.
In the northeastern province of Buri Ram bordering Cambodia, Ratchapol Tranakyos, chairman of the Buri Ram Chamber of Commerce, said the trade and tourism businesses between the two countries had already been affected as tourists were not confident of their safety, while traders slowed their purchases.
Mr Ratchapol said attempts by the Buri Ram chamber to open a permanent border checkpoint in Ban Kruat district aimed at boosting trade and investment would now have to be delayed until diplomatic relations between the two countries are restored.
7 comments:
If Thailand closed their border with Cambodia, their products will have to have to sell to Burma or dump into the sea.
Anonymous said...
នែ!លោកសៀមកុំសូវបានចិត្តពេក!បើលោកសៀមឯងចង់បានលោកសមរង្សីពលរដ្ធខ្មែរជូនលោកសៀមឯងដៃពីរហើយថែមលោកគឹម
សុខាឲ្យមួយទៀតផ្រី!ខ្មែរមិនរករឿងដួចលោកថៃឯងទេ!
11:50PM
Dumping products to the sea???
LOL at your stupid comment. No wonder because Khmers are so stupid like this, you only worth a Thai fugitive as your country advisor.
Have a good day 1:47AM...a good day LOL...
I wished you King comes out from hospital soon.
Sok min Sok yok chorpnov mok leapkleak.ha ha!!.
it good tho so cambodia can start up our own production factory and that ,farmer can have more market of friut and vg and so on..... and stop rely on thia its good for long term grow!!
Border closure will benefit Viets the most as import from Thailand to Cambodia will be subsituted with Viets product instead. In addition, who knows how many Khmer beggars, Khmer workers in Thailand will be shipped back to Cambodia. Plus how many khmer wokers at the border will lose their job. If closing the border will suffer Thai more than it hurts Cambodia as some Khmer people think, Hun Sen would never give in to pay $50 million dollars to Thai for damage done by Khmer riots to the Thai Embassy, Thai businesses in 2003 as Thai demanded. I remembered Thai premier announced at the time that "You don't pay we don't open the border". Wake up dude, look at the world and don't look at the well.
Post a Comment