Bangkok hopes to broaden ties with Laos by 150 per cent in three years
The government targets increasing bilateral trade with Laos by 150 per cent in the next three years through closer cooperation between border provinces in the two countries, as well as the plan to develop a special economic zone (SEZ) in Mukdahan.
Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said Thailand and Laos would cooperate more closely on trade and investment under the Asean Economic Community (AEC), with two-way trade increasing by 1.5 times over the next three years.
This weekend, Chatchai will lead a group of Thai businesspeople to Savannakhet province in Laos to firm up trade cooperation and conduct business matching.
He will also meet with a Laotian cabinet minister to discuss border trade between the two countries.
In 2014, Thai-Laotian bilateral trade rose by 14.32 per cent year on year to Bt151 billion, with Thailand holding a trade surplus of Bt96 billion.
Chatchai said more trade could be seen under the AEC, as well as through the planned SEZ in Mukdahan province, which borders Savannakhet province.
During the mission, Chatchai will also witness the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding for a Thai private hospital to set up in the Savan-Seno Economic Zone in Savannakhet.
The Thai government will also support the use of East-West Economic Corridor Route No 9 connecting Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
The Commerce Ministry will hold a border-trade fair from tomorrow through Monday at City Hall in Mukdahan.
Many products will be traded at the event, including One Tambon One Product items, consumer goods, agricultural equipment, organic products, handicrafts, and franchise businesses.
The fair is projected to generate Bt30 million in immediate sales.
