Border projects to boost ties

Border projects to boost ties

Govt mulls new links with Malaysia

Thailand and Malaysia are planning to accelerate trade between the two countries with a target of US$30 billion (about 1 trillion baht), an increase of 30% from $23 billion last year, by boosting infrastructure development.

Officials from both countries announced the agreement following the 5th Meeting of the Thailand-Malaysia Committee on the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas (JDC) and the 14th Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting for Bilateral Cooperation (JC) in Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The panel's first meeting was held in Malaysia in 2015.

Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah said both countries agreed on expanding border infrastructure projects, namely a road alignment initiative between border checkpoints in Bukit Kayu Hitam in Perlis state of Malaysia and Sadao district in Thailand's Songkhla province.

Another project involves the construction of a Friendship Bridge over the Kolok River, linking Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat.

There is also a plan to build a bridge between Pengkalan Kubor in Kelantan and Narathiwat's Tak Bai.

Mr Saifuddin said it is important to have good infrastructure in border areas between the two countries to support people, trade and business in the future.

Government officials also plan to initiate cooperation between Kedah Rubber City in Malaysia and Songkla Rubber City in Thailand to support rubber farmers and small and medium-sized businesses in both countries, namely in market prices and value-added supply chains for rubber-based industries, he said.

Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai said the two meetings also focused on tourism and the possibility of exploring new areas of cooperation such as the digital economy and cybersecurity.

"We have to explore more opportunities to overcome new challenges such as cybersecurity, economic security or health security," he said, adding these issues need cooperation and it is best to start with neighbouring countries.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT