PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Business operators in this lower Central province have called for the government to reopen the Singkhon border pass with Myanmar, saying its closure has affected the province's trade and investment.
The villagers of Mu Dong have resorted to buying consumer goods from Mergui town in the far south of Myanmar, said provincial chamber of commerce honorary chairman Nipon Suwannawa.
He added that because of the closure at Singkhon, the transport of marine products from Mergui to Ranong now takes several days, instead of just four hours via the border pass.
As a representative of the private sector, Mr Nipon said he would like the government to allow the transport of goods across the Singkhon pass to resume for the sake of Prachuap Khi Khan's economy.
Somkiat Aojimid, who runs a tourism and seafood businesses in Mergui, said Myanmar plans to open a new bridge across the Tenasserim River (or Tranaosi River in Thai) in June. The bridge is about 95% complete. The bridge will be a boon for cross-border trade between Thailand and Myanmar, he said.