New Thai-Cambodian land transport route officially opened to accommodate AEC

Friday, 15 June 2012
By NNT
Pattaya Mail

SA KAEO, 15 June 2012 – A new official route connecting Thailand and neighboring Cambodia has been opened ahead of the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 3 years’ time.

On Thursday, the Thai Ministry of Transport joined Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport in the official opening of the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge, which connects the country’s Sa Kaeo Province with PoiPet town across the border.

The opening ceremony was co-chaired by Thai Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan and Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Tram Iv Tek, who were joined by Asian Development Bank’s executives from both countries and locals as well as state servants, military personnel and the police from the 2 neighbors, amidst an army of Thai, Cambodian and foreign members of the press.

The new route has been planned to facilitate trade and travelers from the two nations through the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border crossing, while further strengthening the Thai-Cambodian relations.

Sa Kaeo Governor Sanit Naksuksi pointed out that the newly-open route will benefit Thai travel business operators greatly and prepare the country for the emergence of the AEC in 2015.