Cambodian, Thai trades up 36 pct in Q1 despite border row [-So much for Hun Xen's suggestion of boycotting Thai products!]

May 23, 2011
Xinhua

The bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and Thailand is still on the rise in spite of recent deadly clashes between the two countries'troops over the border conflict, statistics showed on Sunday.

Total bilateral trades mounted to 716 million U.S. dollars in the first three months, up 36 percent from 527 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year, according to the statistics provided by Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh on Sunday.

Cambodia's export to Thailand was 55 million U.S. dollars, up 139 percent from 23 million U.S. dollars, while Thailand's export to Cambodia worth 661 million U.S. dollars, up 31 percent from 504 million U.S. dollars.

According to the statistics, Thailand's exports to Cambodia include petroleum, processed goods, consumer products, construction materials, fruits, vegetables and cosmetics, while Cambodia primarily ships agricultural products, second hand garments, recyclable metal, and fishing products.

Trade active at Chong Jom border point with Cambodia

SURIN, May 14 (MCOT online news) -- Cross border trade at Chong Jom border point with Cambodia in the Thai northeastern province of Surin was reportedly active this morning as many Cambodians crossed the border and bought large amounts of consumer products.

Surin's Chong Jom border point, which was reopened May 4 after it was closed by Thai officials following bloody clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops in the disputed border area on April 22, was seen as active again as many Cambodians crossed the border and bought consumer products, including vegetables and fruits. Shops owned by Thais and Cambodians were also open as vendors gained confidence that the situation has returned to normal in the area.

Many tourists were also seen wandering in the area.

Thailand-Cambodia Business challenged by Border conflict

May 9, 2011
Sarun Saelee
Thailand Business News

As the Thai-Cambodian border skirmishes have erupted intermittently, critics warned that Thailand might lose the market share in many kinds of goods in Cambodia to its ASEAN partner like Vietnam because of the prolonged tension along the Thai-Cambodian border. 

Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch) cautioned that the saga of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict might tarnish confidence of Thai exporters and investors operating their businesses with Cambodia.

Although the situation in general is relatively positive, concerns are looming that Thailand might lose the market share, both in terms of trade and investment in Cambodia to investors from neighboring Vietnam as the mutual relationship between those two countries has been healthy.

Thai business people in Cambodia not affected by border clashes: minister

May 01, 2011
Xinhua

The majority of Thai business people in Cambodia have not been affected by the Thai-Cambodian border clashes, according to the Thai Minister of Commerce, Thai National News Bureau report on Saturday.

Thai Minister of Commerce Pornthiva Nakasai said she had checked with the Thai commercial counselor of the Thai embassy in Cambodia and found that Thai business activities were carrying on normally despite a series of artillery exchanges at the Thai- Cambodian border.

According to the minister, most of the Thai businesses in Cambodia are located opposite the northeastern Thai provinces of Sa Kaeo and Trat while the clashes usually take place in Surin and Buri Ram provinces.

Nevertheless, Pornthiva said she has assigned the commercial counselor to monitor the situation very closely in order to make ready assistance for the private sector if it is requested.

Thailand tries to boost trade with Cambodia despite border dispute

March 24, 2011
Xinhua

Thailand will hold a large trade exhibition here in May in order to boost bilateral trade cooperation despite ongoing military confrontation between the two countries in the disputed border areas near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, said Thai ambassador on Thursday.

During a farewell meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the outgoing Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai said that the expo will help to boost closer trade ties between the two countries and Thai commerce minister Porntiva Nakasai will attend it.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen expressed his support for the expo and encouraged more cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand on other sectors even though the two countries have border conflict.

Jiranan Wongmongkol, director of the Thai embassy's Foreign Trade Promotion Office in Phnom Penh, said, "Every year, we just hold one trade expo here, but this year, we do twice because Thailand is committed to strengthening and expanding trade cooperation with its neighboring Cambodia."

Thai-Cambodia Fighting Slows Border Trade, Traffic

Daniel Schearf, Voice of America
Si Sa Ket, Thailand February 10, 2011

The Thai-Cambodia border is at an uneasy calm after recent deadly clashes near disputed territory left several people dead and scores injured. Thousands on both sides have fled the area. The fighting led to a dramatic drop in the number of tourists and traders crossing the border.

At the Chong Jom market on the Thai-Cambodia border, Cambodian shopkeeper Kaew Yungurn squeezes auto polish onto a rag. He demonstrates his product for a couple journalists and onlookers on a sample piece of a car hood.

As he works, Kaew says sometimes you have to apply two coats of the white liquid, which cost $6 a bottle. But now he shows how it can repair minor scratches.

Unfortunately, the normally busy market that brings together Thai and Cambodian traders is almost empty and Kaew has no customers.

Thai-Cambodian border trade lively after PM's pledge to improve relations

BANGKOK, Sept 26 (MCOT online news) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has agreed to improve bilateral relations with Thailand - relations which have been impeded by border dispute near an ancient temple, according to his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Speaking Sunday during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr Abhisit said his meeting with Mr Hun Sen on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly in New York on Friday produced fruitful results as both agreed that relations between the two countries should become lively.

He said he will meet several times with Mr Hun Sen during upcoming sessions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to which both countries belong.

Friday's meeting of the two leaders was the first time after UNESCO's World Heritage Commission acted in late July to postpone its decision over Cambodian's unilateral plan to manage the Preah Vihear temple complex following an objection by the Thai government.

Their cordial discussions in New York caused cross-border trade in the Thai border district of Phu Sing district in Si Sa Ket provjnce to become lively again early Sunday, said Hattachai Pengchaem, who heads the trade and tourism operators association in Chong Sa-ngam.

Residents from both sides of the border crossed over and exchanged consumer goods, Mr Hattachai said.

Cross border trade will again become lively, traders said, in response to seeing pictures of Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Abhisit being cordial to one another.

"Seeing both men shaking hands during the [New York] meeting in local newspapers," Mr Hattachai said, was creating an improved spirit on the border.

"This is a good sign. Our peoples will gain more confidence and [the meeting] will help boost tourism, especially for Cambodia, "Mr Hattachai added.

Diplomacy set to pay dividend in Cambodia [-Bangkok just realizes that?]

Thailand seeks lead role in investment

6/09/2010
Phusadee Arunmas
Bangkok Post

Thailand hopes to regain its leadership in foreign investment in Cambodia over the next five years now that the two countries have resumed diplomatic ties after months of strained relations.

Thai investment in Cambodia has fallen dramatically over the past seven years.

The relationship between the two soured notably in 2003 when the Thai embassy and some Thai businesses were heavily damaged by rioters in Phnom Penh. They had been reacting to fabricated reports quoting a Thai actress as saying that Angkor Wat belonged to Thailand.

Relations subsequently improved but became strained again last year as the two countries feuded over the Preah Vihear temple, leading to their ambassadors being recalled. Both envoys last month returned to their jobs, and Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and Prime Minister Hun Sen are expected to hold talks later this month.

Thailand's investments based on approvals by the Cambodia Investment Board totalled only five projects worth US$15.5 million last year. The country ranked sixth in project numbers and third in project value, behind China ( $42.3 million) and Vietnam ($24.7 million).

Over the past 16 years, Thai investments in Cambodia totalled 81 projects worth $362.35 million. Most were in hotels, agro-industry, wood processing, food processing, telecoms, medical services, electricity, mining, garments and shoes.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said Thailand had potential to resume its leadership in foreign investment in Cambodia, if it can capitalise on the potential of National Road No. 5 as the land transport gateway to Vietnam and China.

The 407-kilometre highway connects Phnom Penh with Aranyaprathet in the Thai border province of Sa Kaeo. From Phnom Penh the road links to the Moc Bai-Bavet border crossing with Vietnam.

Mr Alongkorn and a group of Thai businesspeople recently travelled the road through Cambodia to Vietnam to explore the potential.

He said the Thai government planned to set up a special economic zone in Ban Pa Rai in Aranyaprathet to promote ties with Cambodia. It would offer comprehensive import-export services, distribution centres, customer services and an industrial estate covering about 1,000 rai.

The zone would be linked with Cambodia's Poipet O'Neang Special Economic Zone which occupies 2,000 rai opposite Ban Pa Rai.

Mr Alongkorn said the zone would be proposed to economic ministers and the cabinet in the new two weeks.

The special economic zone would be the second with a neighbouring country after the one that straddles Mae Sot district in Tak and Myawaddy in Burma. A special economic zone gives entrepreneurs more investment flexibility through such things as relaxed labour rules.

Thailand is currently the fifth largest trading partner of Cambodia behind the United States, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong. Bilateral trade between the two countries totalled $492.8 million last year, $477.2 million of which came from Thai exports.

Border trade not yet affected

November 14, 2009
By Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

Cross-border trade with Cambodia is holding up despite the diplomatic row between the countries.

"There has been no disruption yet in border trade with Cambodia. The conflict is likely to affect new investment projects, rather than existing ones. Most new projects involve agricultural projects and restaurants," Niyom Wairatpanij, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's border trade committee, said yesterday.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot reiterated that commercial business with Cambodia was normal. He insisted there had been no violence against Thais in Cambodia, but that a contingent evacuation plan was ready should the situation deteriorate.

The value of Thailand's cross-border trade with Cambodia is generally lower than that with its other immediate neighbours.

Niyom said last year's border trade with Malaysia was the highest at Bt400 billion, followed by about Bt150 billion with Burma.

Laos was ranked third, followed by Cambodia.

In the first nine months of this year, cross-border trade with Cambodia was estimated at Bt32 billion, out of an overall bilateral trade value of Bt39.53 billion. Border trade generally accounts for 80 per cent of the total.

Regarding overall Thai trade with the Kingdom's nine fellow Asean members, the value of exports to Cambodia ranked eighth at US$1.14 billion (Bt38.2 billion) in the first nine months of the year.

This was higher only than Brunei, which imported $88.3 million from Thailand, according to Commerce Ministry data.

Markets along Thai-Cambodian border revive as tensions ease

17 February 2009
MCOT

Cross-border trade between Thailand and Cambodia along the northeastern province of Surin has been staggered since the border dispute between the two countries over the ancient Preah Vihear temple and overlapping area erupted in mid-2008. Today, the situation has returned to normal, but how’s the trading of the two nations? Let’s find out.

Cambodia’s O’Smach market across from Thailand’s Chong Jom border crossing in Surin has been revived, after seven months of tension and the military standoff between the two countries eased.

A Cambodian trader said the border dispute and the deadly clashes last year scared Thai customers who usually crossed the border to the market, while the Cambodians were also reluctant to cross into Thai territory for fear they could not return to their homeland if tensions rose.

With the situation having improved in January thanks to border talks, O’Samach market welcome about 600 Thais daily. The number might not be as many as before the border dispute flared up, but it’s much better than the last quarter of 2008.

"When the Preah Vihear dispute eased, Thai people came back to our market as they did before. But our sales still drop to 70%. We used to sell 100% before the border problems happened," said a Cambodian trader.

As normal trade activities resume, people seem more comfortable, as seen in a traditional coffee shop where Cambodians usually relax during the trading day. They enjoy sipping tea and coffee while watching DVD movies with their friends.

Across the border in Thai territory is Chong Jom market. Here the atmosphere is also lively. As most of the traders are Cambodian, when the tensions flared they all closed their shops and fled to their home. Now they’re come back, bringing more traders with them. Market operators say market expansion is needed to facilitate these new traders.

"The old Cambodian traders told their descendants that trading in the Thai market was always doing well. So they followed the old traders here. Now we have to expand the market area to support these new comers, said Plaeng Charoensuk, Chong Jom Market Operator.

Cambodians are still dependant on purchasing everyday necessities, as well as construction materials and petrol from Thailand, while they export mainly agricultural products to the kingdom.

THAI RATH EDITORIAL: Thai-Cambodian relations

Tuesday October 28, 2008
Bangkok Post

Thai-Cambodian relations took a step forward last week when the two prime ministers met during the Asia-Europe Summit in Beijing.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen agreed that the border conflict must be solved peacefully through the joint Thai-Cambodian border demarcation committee, which is scheduled to meet on Nov 10.

PM Hun Sen softened his stance during his meeting with PM Somchai. Two weeks ago, the Cambodian leader had demanded that Thai troops be withdrawn from a disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple. Clashes subsequently erupted, resulting in casualties on both sides.

The longstanding border dispute has done more harm than good to both countries. Cambodia has lost its income from tourism and border trade since the temple dispute flared up last July. Thailand's border trade has also suffered.

The two leaders' meeting in Beijing has generated optimism and goodwill on both sides of the border. Those who tried to whip up nationalism to create tensions between the two countries must now think twice.

During the Cold War era, the United States and the Soviet Union created wars through their proxies around the world, and Southeast Asia was no exception. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam were drawn into this proxy war.

With the demise of the Soviet empire, Thailand under the late prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan adopted a new policy to turn the Indochina battlefields into trade zones. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam subsequently joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

All countries must strive for peaceful co-existence for the benefit of their peoples.