The government expects cross-border trade to grow by 5-7% to 1.08-1.1 trillion baht this year, driven by the global recovery, economic and demand growth in neighbouring countries, as well as the baht’s weakness.
The Laos-China high-speed train project, which opened on Dec 3, 2021, and the Commerce Ministry’s acceleration of reopening border checkpoints should also help improve overall cross-border trade activities this year, according to Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.
Thailand has reopened a total of 48 checkpoints, including those at Tak Bai and Buketa in Narathiwat in the middle of November last year. Some 49 border checkpoints are still closed because of the pandemic.
The ministry aims to reopen 12 more border checkpoints this year, said Mr Jurin, and it pledges to continue working with the private sector to increase trade along the borders and tackle…
