Thai-Cambodian border trade thriving

Wednesday, 22 August 2012
By NNT
Pattaya Mail

SURIN, 20 August 2012 – The border trade between Thailand and Cambodia from January to April this year is worth over 26 billion baht, which is an increase of 25.5 percent year-on-year.

According to Mr. Sittiporn Bangkaew, Director of the Surin Provincial Office of Commercial Affairs, Surin province shares a border of over 120 kilometers with Cambodia at Buachet, Phanom Dong Rak, Kap Choeng and Sangkha districts. He said ahead of the formation of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the border trade in the area has flourished, with approximately 900 million baht being generated each year at the Chong Jom border checkpoint.

Thai-Cambodian Joint Trade Committee agrees to set up special economic border zone

BANGKOK, May 20 (MCOT) – The Thai-Cambodian Joint Trade Committee (JTC) on Sunday agreed to set up special economic border zones, aiming to increase trade volume by 30% annually, said Thai Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

Mr Boonsong met his Cambodian counterpart Cham Prasidhat for the third Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in Bangkok.

The Thai commerce minister said he would assign the permanent secretary for commerce and the director general of the department of trade negotiations to speed up the task, which will also bolster trade along the border.

The special economic zones could be initiated in Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Buriram. Such cooperation could be later expanded for other neighbouring countries.

Trade, tourism along Thai-Cambodian border active after World Court ruling

Friday, 29 July 2011
MCOT

Cross border trade at Chong Sa-ngam border crossing with neighboring Cambodia in Si Sa Ket on Sunday has reportedly been revived as many Cambodians queued up for the opening of the border crossing in the morning to exchange products with Thai traders.

Cambodians crossed the border to buy and sell large amounts of consumer products. Border trade activities were seen as active again amidst security provided by police officers from Phu Sing Police Station and local army rangers.

Apart from the trade, tourism along the Thai-Cambodian border was also boosted as many tourists have been visiting the area, asking for information about cross-border excursions to attractions such as Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, according to Hattachai Pengchaem, head of the trade and tourism operators association in Chong Sa-ngam.

Trade, tourism along Thai-Cambodian border active after World Court ruling

SI SA KET, July 24 (MCOT online news) – Cross border trade at Chong Sa-ngam border crossing with neighbouring Cambodia in Si Sa Ket on Sunday has reportedly been revived as many Cambodians queued up for the opening of the border crossing in the morning to exchange products with Thai traders.

Cambodians crossed the border to buy and sell large amounts of consumer products. Border trade activities was seen as active again amidst security provided by police officers of Phu Sing Police Station and local army rangers.

Apart from the trade, tourism along the Thai-Cambodian border was also boosted as many tourists have been visiting the area, asking for information about cross-border excursions to attractions such as Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Siem Riap, according to Hattachai Pengchaem, head of the trade and tourism operators association in Chong Sa-ngam.

Trade With Thailand Grows, Despite Border Row [-More catch up to do for Vietnamese trade?]

Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc, said the trade activity was an important aspect of the relationship between the two countries, one that itself could lead to peaceful developments.

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer

Phnom Penh Monday, 23 May 2011

“The sporadic border clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have had a very slight impact on trade activities.”

Bilateral trade between Cambodian and Thailand continues to rise, despite the ongoing border conflict, officials said Monday.

Trade between the two reached $716 million in the first three months of the year, up 35 percent from the year before, according to numbers provided by the Thai Embassy.

That increase has come despite a rise in tension along disputed border areas, including deadly clashes in February and April.

“The sporadic border clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have had a very slight impact on trade activities,” said Chan Nora, secretary of state for the Ministry of Commerce. “Trade is for profit. When businessmen think something is profitable, they’ll do it.”

Cambodia scrubs Thai trade show

17/05/2011
Bangkok Post

The Cambodian government has postponed a Thai trade exhibition set for Thursday due to concerns about safety after border conflicts between the two countries.

Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh sent a letter dated May 13 to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh to contact organisers to defer the Thailand Trade Exhibition 2011 until a "more favourable time comes", the Phnom Penh Post quoted him as saying.

The event had been set from Thursday to Sunday at the Diamond Island Convention Centre in the Cambodian capital.

Cambodia to postpone Thai expo slated for next week in Phnom Penh

May 14, 2011
Xinhua

Cambodia decided to postpone the Thai expo planned for next week in Phnom Penh, saying it is not the right time to hold such an expo.

"Due to recent restrictions on border trade by Thai military region 2, I am of the opinion that this is not the right time to promote Thai products in Cambodia," Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said in a letter to Thai embassy in Phnom Penh on Friday.

Cambodia's decision is a response to the 2nd Thai Army command' s order on Tuesday to halt a further exports of fuel and other products into Cambodia, claiming the Cambodian military may need them to support their troops in operations against Thai forces along the disputed border.

"The export ban will last until the border situation really returns to normal," the Bangkok Post online reported, citing the order letter of the 2nd Army command.

Thai-Cambodian border clashes may affect trade, investment: KRC

BANGKOK, May 2 (MCOT online news) - The ongoing Thai-Cambodian border clashes, if continued, will tend to lower the market share of Thai goods in Cambodia despite the continous growth of trade between the two countries, according to the Kasikorn Research Center (KRC).

The leading think tank said the situation may affect, at a certain level, the confidence of Thai exporters and investors having businesses in Cambodia. They may be pressured by investors from other countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially Vietnam.

Trade and investment between Thailand and Cambodia has risen continuously risen from US$1.4 billion in 2007 to US$2.5 billion last year, with Thailand gaining the positive balance of trade. The two countries' border trade counts about at least 70 per cent of overall trade.

Border closure costing [Thai] traders dearly

25/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Trade worth 15 to 20 million baht a day is being lost due to the closure of the Chong Chom border checkpoint in Kab Choeng district of Surin because of the renewed fighting on the border with Cambodia, a local business leader said on Monday.

A large quantity of good, particularly fuel, was held up on the Thai side of the border unable to cross to its usual destination in O-Samet in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, said Nanthawat Kijsakulpaisarn, secretary-general of Surin Chamber of Commerce.

Cross-border trade at this checkpoint was worth some 800 million baht annually. The closure was costing between 15 and 20 million baht a day in lost revenues, he said.

Cambodia, Thailand vow to boost bilateral trade

18/02/2011
VNA/VOV News (Hanoi)

Cambodia and Thailand have pledged to boost bilateral trade, despite military confrontation in the border disputed areas near the temple of Preah Vihear, a World Heritage site.

At his meeting with the visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister, Trairong Suwankiri, on February 17, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia's policy is to minimise disputes with Thailand.

PM Hun Sen also emphasised the necessity to control the dispute along the border, to prevent its further spread, and expand cooperation in other fields such as economics, trade, investment, tourism and culture.

For his part, Deputy PM Suwankiri thanked the Cambodian government for coordinating efforts in organising the annual Thailand-Cambodia Trade Fair in Phnom Penh from February 17-20.

Border dispute keeps Thai businesses away

Friday, 11 February 2011
Steve Finch
The Phnom Penh Post

RECENT fighting on the border between Cambodia and Thailand has had a minimal impact on the country’s economic interests in a direct, measurable way. But the fallout comes from the fear factor generated as a result of the clashes, a much more difficult outcome to assess.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference on Wednesday confirming that a Thai trade fair would go ahead in Phnom Penh next week despite the fighting, representatives of companies including Thai Airways and Siam Cement Group said they had experienced little or no adverse effects.

Thailand’s national carrier has seen only 100 cancellations on outbound flights to Bangkok for this month as a direct result of fighting, said Narinthorn Purnagupta, Thai Airways general manager in Cambodia, which represents just 1 percent of traffic.

Inbound flights had seen even fewer cancellations, he added, just 40 so far.

Border checkpoints 'shouldn't close'

9/02/2011
Bangkok Post

The Ministry of Finance has ordered the Customs Department to try to keep its checkpoints along the Thai-Cambodian border open to trade, Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit said on Wednesday.

“I have ordered customs officials to do their best not to close the border checkpoints, despite the recent clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops, because it could hurt border trade,” said Mr Pradit.

Director-general of customs Prasong Poontaneat said his department was ready to close the border if ordered by security units.

Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday that it was not necessary to reduce the level of ties between Thailand and Cambodia at this time.

Thai-Cambodian border traders call for peace

BURI RAM, Monday 31 January 2011 (Bernama) -- Traders along the Thai-Cambodian border have urged the governments of Thailand and Cambodia to negotiate on resolving ongoing border disputes and open temporary border passes, Thai News Agency reports on Monday.

Traders said that the Ban Kruad Estate market that stands close to the Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand』s Buri Ram province is currently facing sluggish trading as mounting tensions continue over the border between the two adjacent Kingdoms.

With sales recorded at its lowest in a decade, local traders have voiced their fear that persisting tensions will bring even more severe results to the local economy, urging that peace negotiations be held quickly to restore bilateral relations and resume normal trading and communication between the two neighbours.

Likewise, the Ban Klong Luek permanent border pass in Thailand's Aranyaprathet district remains quiet although with the Chinese New Year approaching as both Thais and Cambodians have preferred to stay home due to safety concerns.

Thailand, Cambodia to hold talks on economic cooperation

BANGKOK, Oct 31 (MCOT online news) -- Thailand and Cambodia will confer on economic cooperation between their border provinces next month, according to Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

Speaking at Suvannabhumi Airport on his return from the 17th ASEAN summit ending in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi Saturday, Mr Alongkorn said that senior officials in the border provinces officials of the two countries will meet Nov 30 and discuss possible economic cooperation.

The upcoming meeting is considered as positive sign toward “improving relations both at the provincial and national levels,” Mr Alongkorn said.

Cambodia’s commerce minister discussed economic cooperation between the two countries with Mr Alongkorn at the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. Both agreed that a summit should be held in February.

Both countries agreed Saturday in the Thai resort of Pattaya to cooperate on seven issues during the seventh General Border Committee meeting. The cooperation included allowing citizens of both countries to cross the border freely, removing land mines and to oppose every type of terrorism affecting the two neighbours.

Thailand and Cambodia both claim a 1.8-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometre) parcel of land near the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple, named by UNESCO a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the ancient temple belonged to Cambodia, although its main entrance lies in Thailand. The exact boundary through the surrounding grounds remains in dispute, with occasional military skirmishes claiming a number of lives.

In another related development, the next ASEAN summit will be held in 2011 in Indonesia. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during the closing address that ASEAN must strive forward and to continue following its principle.

ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

[Thailand] Border trade reaches B453 billion

10/09/2010
Bangkok Post

The border trade between Thailand and neighbouring countries over the first seven months of the year (January-July) totaled 453.31 billion baht, an increase of 30.5 per cent from the same period last year, deputy director-general at the Foreign Trade Department Pongpun Gearaviriyapun said on Friday.

During the period, total value of Thailand’s products shipped to its neighbours was up 46.3 per cent to 283.88 billion baht, while the import value increased 10.5 per cent to 169.42 billion baht. The country posted a trade surplus of 114.46 billion baht, Ms Pongpan said.

She attributed the increase in border trade to the Asean Free Trade Area agreement (Afta) which took effect from Jan 1, 2010, leading to a reduction of import tax to zero per cent on more than 8,300 items, and the economic recovery in the neighbouring nations which boosted the demand for Thai products.

The value of exports to Malaysia was 184.15 billion baht, follow by Laos (37.54 billion baht), Burma (31.32 billion baht) and Cambodia (30.90 billion baht), Ms Pongpun said.

The top-five Thai export products were para-rubber, computer sets and accessories, rubber products, automobiles and parts, and diesel fuel.

Thai-Cambodian border trade looks promising after conflicts ease

BANGKOK, Sept 1 (MCOT online news) – The border trade between Thailand and Cambodia looks promising after the political conflicts between the neighboring countries has eased, according to Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

Speaking of his trip with the Thai public and private-sector delegation to Cambodia and Vietnam August 28-30, Mr Alongkorn said it is part of Thailand's mission to explore logistic routes linking goods transport between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

During the trip, bilateral talks were held to expand trade cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia after the political conflicts between both countries had subsided.

Mr Alongkorn said he had an opportunity to meet with Thai businesspersons investing in Cambodia and was informed that the trade between both countries had become active again.

In the first seven months of this year, border trade value between Thailand and Cambodia increased by more than 70 per cent.

It is expected border trade will rise rapidly and reach Bt70 billion in value this year compared with Bt50-60 billion last year.

He said the government had also proposed establishment of a Thai-Cambodian Business Council to serve as a venue for discussion between representatives of official and private business sectors, organisation of trade exhibitions, and business matching.

The government targeted making Thailand become Cambodia's number-one trade partner next year.

Currently, the country ranks second after the United States, he added.

[Thai] Govt plans special economic zone [to boost one-way Thai trade with Cambodia]

30/08/2010
NAOWARAT SUKSAMRAN
Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH: The government plans to set up a special economic zone in Sa Kaeo to boost trade and investment ties with Cambodia, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot says.

Mr Alongkorn said in the Cambodian capital the government would consider a special zone for trade in Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo.

The zone would be linked with Cambodia's 2,500 rai investment area which has been established at Poipet and O'Neang opposite Ban Pa Rai in Aranyaprathet.

The Commerce Ministry would hold talks with other agencies on the plan which was expected to be forwarded to the economic ministers for approval in three months, he said.

The special economic zone would be the second with neighbouring countries after the first which straddles Mae Sot district in Tak and Myawaddy in Burma. A special economic zone would give entrepreneurs more investment flexibility through such things as relaxed labour rules.

Mr Alongkorn, who travelled to Phnom Penh by road from Aranyaprathet, identified contract farming and the processed food industry as potential investments in the zone.

"Now the United States is the top trade partner with Cambodia followed by Thailand," Mr Alongkorn said in talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Nhek Bunchhay, Deputy Commerce Minister Kim Sitan and Information Minister Khieu Kanharit.

"The new cooperation on the economic zone with Cambodia will keep Thailand as a top partner with that country."

The plan was part of a Thai strategy to open more economic links with its neighbours and came under the Mekong subregional cooperation scheme, Mr Alongkorn said.

Nhek Bunchhay supported the plan, saying industries to be set up in the proposed zone would help end problems associated with the influx of illegal Cambodian workers into Thailand. More than 100,000 Cambodians work illegally in Thailand, including Bangkok, he said.

The Thai economic zone would allow Cambodians to cross the border to work and return home again on a daily basis, Nhek Bunchhay said. It also would contribute to peace and development, and reduce border conflicts.

"Developments along our border can take place if we help turn the boundary into a border of peace and sincerity," the Cambodian deputy premier said.

Nhek Bunchhay called for the two countries to quickly find ways to resolve the disputed territory on the border.

Khieu Kanharit urged the media in Thailand and Cambodia to play a role for the two countries to foster economic cooperation and create better understanding.

Thai-Cambodian border trade lull results amid worry over Cambodia’s Day of Anger

MCOT online news

SI SA KET, July 15 – Thai-Cambodian border trade on Thursday slowed to a near halt at Si Sa Ket's Chong Sa-ngam border crossing amid fears of possible violence during the Cambodian observance of a Day of Anger on July 15.

Trade at the Chong Sa-ngam border crossing in Si Sa Ket's Phu Singha district has been relatively quiet since Monday.

Suwanna Wongrujiroj, a 25-year-old Thai who sells food, said that less than 50 Cambodians crossed the border here on Thursday -- business was sluggish.

The number of Cambodian traders crossing the border to buy goods in Thailand dropped compared to previous days thanks to worries over possible violence during Cambodia's Day of Anger, according to a Cambodian importer.

Another Cambodian trader said most Cambodians on either side of the border here feared trouble might occur during Cambodia's Day of Anger event so they opted crossing the border to do their business today.

However, the trader believed that the situation will return to normal after July 15.

Meanwhile, local police, security volunteers and military provided strict security along the Thai-Cambodian border to prevent any untoward incident.

Earlier, Mr Abhisit yesterday said the government was closely monitoring the situation, and there was no reason to be overly worried.

The government must deal carefully with border issues which are sensitive.

He emphasised the need for Thailand to continuously express its rights over the disputed areas at the same time both sides must avoid clashes between the troops of the two countries, he said.

[Thai] Think Tank: Border Trade Remains Intact Despite Diplomatic Rows

11 February 2010
Thai-ASEAN News Network

A research director at the University of the Chamber of Commerce says the cross-border trade between Thailand and Cambodia has not been affected by diplomatic tension, and is optimistic about this year's outlook.

Thanawat Polvichai, director of the University of the Chamber of Commerce's Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, observed that Thai-Cambodian border trade will continue as usual with a bright prospect for growth, despite strained relations between the two countries.

Thanawat was providing a lecture at Maneechan Resort in Chanthaburi province on how the province can progress and respond to challenges from the global and domestic economies.

He added that the outlook for cross-border trade is particularly promising in Chanthaburi and Trat, which are major routes for goods transport between Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and this is owing to the opening of the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

Thanawat estimated the value of Chanthabuti's border trade for this year at 3.5 billion baht, compared to last year's 3 billion baht.

He projected growth in exports of beverage, office equipment and supplies, and fruits.

Situation Calm at Thai-Cambodian Border

16 November 2009
Thai-ASEAN News Network

Trade activities at checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia are continuing as usual amidst business operators' concern about the situation.

The border trade at Chong Sa-ngum permanent border pass in Si Sa Ket province today sees a large number of locals and tourists from both countries continuing to commute and trade.

A Thai egg trader at the border market revealed that many Cambodian traders were hesitant to cross the border since the start of the diplomatic standoff.

As a result, the sales of her goods have dropped by 50 percent during this period.

Cambodian merchants dismissed their concerns over possible closure of the Thai-Cambodian border, saying if Thailand decides to do so, they can order goods from China and Vietnam.

Chairman of Trat Provincial Chamber of Commerce, Prasert Siri, said that more than 300 fishing boats from Trat and neighboring provinces operate in Cambodia's territorial waters. Each boat can generate at least one million baht a month in revenue.

He expressed his concern that the ongoing dispute between the two countries will have an impact on the fishery business and consumers.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Chamber of Commerce have taken advantage of the tense situation between Thailand and Cambodia to promote Thai-Laotian tourism via the Chong Mek checkpoint in Sirinthorn district.

Thailand's export to Laos via the Chong Mek border pass is worth five to six billion baht a year.