The Federation of Thai Industries in Nakhon Phanom is working with related agencies and authorities in Laos to facilitate fruit exports to China, which have been significantly affected by the pandemic.
Anuphap Saenkham, vice president of Nakhon Phanom's border trade department, said border closures brought on by the pandemic have affected trade activity in the province, which is known as the main gateway for fruit exports to China.
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the region, over 120 billion baht worth of fresh fruit passed through the border each year.
However, in an effort to prevent Covid-19 from causing an outbreak along the border, Chinese authorities have ramped up restrictions on border crossings. Only 10-20 lorries can now pass through each day, down from 150-200.
By the time the lorries complete the long screening process at the Chinese border, much of their fruit goes rotten, he said.
As a result, the majority of goods exported through the province are energy drinks, he said.
Thailand has three main routes which link the kingdom to China, namely the R3A which runs from Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai to China via Boten in Laos; the R9 that links Mukdahan with China through Savannakhet in Laos and Vietnam; and the R12, which connects Nakhon Phanom, Laos and Vietnam.
Mr Anuphap said his department is coordinating with all related agencies in the province to figure out an alternative route to safely transport fresh fruit from Thailand, over water.
From the R12 checkpoint, exports bound for China can be redirected to Vung Ang Port in Vietnam via Laos for shipment to Qinzhou Port in China, he said.
Other companies in the industry may opt to use the newly launched China-Laos Railway system to transport their goods, though the cost will be much higher.
Since the pandemic began, border-trading posts at Ban Phaeng, Tha Uthen, Muang and That Phanom districts have been closed in an effort to prevent contagion.
Businesses have complained about difficulties in transporting goods through Laos through the Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.