[Khmer-thai] Clashes: impact on [Thai] trade with VN, Laos adds to FTI concern

April 26, 2011
By Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

Today's meeting of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) will discuss the Thai-Cambodian border clashes, which have been added as an urgent agenda item amid concern that the fighting is not only harming trade between the two nations but also damaging commerce with Vietnam and Laos.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England yesterday said it expected only a minimal impact on Thailand's overall trade, due to the relatively small value of exports to Cambodia.

"Several million baht have been lost a day since the clashes first erupted," said FTI vice chairman Thanit Sorat.

"Thai exports to Vietnam and Laos have been affected, as some shipments have to pass through Route No 48, which connects Thailand, Cambodia and the southern part of Laos and Vietnam."

Normally, Thailand exports fresh fruits, flour and foods through Route No 48. Investment has also dropped considerably since the conflict started, he said.

Thai traders on Khmer border ask for reduced red tape

CHANTHABURI, Aug 31 (TNA) – Dozens of Thai traders in Chanthaburi's Soi Dao district who trade in fresh Cambodian-grown agricultural produce have called on the provincial authorities for help with a recurring problem on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Cambodian authorities in Battambang province had prevented the traders' trucks from going further than 500 metres inside Cambodian territory, using the excuse that their vehicles use right-hand steering wheels which are not legally allowed inside that country.

The traders petitioned Chanthaburi provincial governor Phanat Kaewlai to urgently assist them because fresh farm goods produced in Cambodia which required truck transport for importing the produce to Thailand were liable to rot quickly in the rainy season.

The current Cambodian ban on crossborder entry of the Thai trucks is causing heavy losses to the Soi Dao border traders, who reported it was the fifth such action this year, according to a leading trader.