Border market opens in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Border market opens in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Prachuap Khiri Khan is hoping to have its Singkhorn Pass upgraded into a permanent checkpoint for Thailand and Myanmar. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)
Prachuap Khiri Khan is hoping to have its Singkhorn Pass upgraded into a permanent checkpoint for Thailand and Myanmar. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)

A weekend border market has opened at the Singkhorn Pass in Prachuap Khiri Khan, a move that could lead to the upgrade of the temporary border crossing into a permanent checkpoint and a boost in trade with Myanmar.

Weera Sriwattantrakul, Prachuap Khiri Khan's governor, said the Muang district market will provide a sales channel for locals from both countries to sell their goods and establish stronger commercial ties.

The province has improved infrastructure on the Thai side while the road in Myanmar to Marid is still dirt and awaiting a government upgrade to a four-lane road. The distance from Ban Mu Dong in Myanmar to the town of Myeik is 180 kilometres. The crossing point has been open since May 2013.

Mr Weera believed that the economic value after upgrading the Singkhorn Pass into a border checkpoint initially would be as much as 4 billion baht a year, with the potential to rise to more than 10 billion baht annually.

He believes the transit time for goods from Myanmar to Bangkok via the Singkhorn Pass would be cut to only six hours, instead of 10 hours via Koh Song in Ranong province, helping to reduce expenses for businesses.

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