Cambodia, Thailand agree to increase trade

BANGKOK, May 20 (TNA) - Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday agreed to increase their trade value by 30 per cent annually and also to establish special economic zones along their common border to widen trade. Speaking at the end of a Joint Trade Committee meeting in Bangkok, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said the agreement was to be enforced urgently, possibly along the border in the Thai northeastern provinces of Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Buri Ram. Presently, cross-border trade between people of the two countries in those four provinces already is already active. In future, cross border trade could be widened to neighbouring countries including Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, he said. On the occasion, both sides also agreed to establish a joint rice miller and trader, aimed at creating food security. Last year, total trade value between the two countries stood at about 90 billion baht. (TNA)