Cabinet mulls longer Thai-Malaysian border hours to boost trade
Thailand’s Cabinet ordered talks on extending Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint hours, aiming to stimulate local economies and cross-border commerce.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat announced on Tuesday (September 30) that the Cabinet, in its first meeting following the policy statement to Parliament, approved an Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) request to extend the designation of security risk areas in the three southern border provinces.
He added that during the meeting, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports raised concerns received from communities along the Thai-Malaysian border, particularly regarding requests to extend border checkpoint operating hours, opening earlier and closing later.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul noted that such an adjustment could boost cross-border economic activity, especially in southern trade hubs. He assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn to coordinate with all relevant parties and expedite discussions to move the proposal forward.
