Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and a group of economic ministers are touring Mae Sot on Wednesday, exploring ways to spur cross-border trade and review progress on the special economic zone there.
Accompanying the prime minister on the Tak province trip is Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Karnjanarat, Labour Minister Sirichai Distakul, Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang, Deputy Finance Minister Wisudhi Srisuphan, Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee, PM's secretary-general Wilas Arunsri and deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukhondhapatipak.
In Mae Sot, they first visited trade-exhibition centre and convention centres to promote tourism before meeting with local government officials and representatives from the private sector.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is greeted by local officials in Mae Sot. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
In the afternoon, the team was scheduled to visit the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and Mae Sot customs office. The border district is a main gateway to Myanmar with the highest volume of cross-border trade. It is also a key point on the East-West Economic Corridor where transport routes between Thailand and Myanmar meet.
Mae Sot is expected to play a major role in the promotion of tourism, trade and investments in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
The prime minister and his team will also visit the Mae Sot Cooperatives Settlement Co to follow up work for the development of the Tak special economic zone. The government has a policy to stimulate trade and investment in the border area through a cooperative system that can be linked with Myanmar.