Border business not affected by detention of Thais

Khin Win, president of the Myanmar’s Kawthaung Chamber of Commerce, on Sunday told Thai News Agency that the arrest of Thaisfor encroaching into Myanmar soil earlier this month has not had impact on mutual relations and border trade, particularly in Ranong and Koh Song.

 

He explained that the trade still runs normally and smoothly, adding that the two towns have close relations and depend on each other.
Myanmar troops rounded up a total of 92 Thais in Koh Song of Myanmar early this month for encroaching into its soil. The group were suspected of being lured to plant rubber trees and marijuana there by gangsters. Some of them reportedly were found in possession of war weapons. 

 

Meanwhile, Ranong Chamber of Commerce president Nareumol Khoraphum said that the Ranong-Koh Song border trade remained lively, saying that the residents from the two countries continued their business activities as usual.

 

If the ongoing situation does not worsen and lead to an open conflict, cross border trade will not be affected, she added.

 

According to the Ranong-Koh Song cross border trade from June through July, purchase orders from Myanmar traders for consumer products have doubled as they intended to stockpile goods in preparation for the rainy season, when the transportation can be difficult.

 

Rising demand has also been attributed to the economic and investment expansion on the Myanmar side as well.

 

The top ten products exported to Koh Song included fuel and lubricants while other heavily traded products were cooking oil, beverages, chocolate milk powder, trawling nets, ropes, metal and plastic products as well as tyres.