The Nation / 18 May 1998  

Business  
Thai trade with neighbours on rise  

By Achara Pongvutitham  
   THAILAND'S exports to Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia have 
jumped to 138 per cent in baht terms, totalling Bt62.89 
billion in the first four months this year, Deputy Prime 
Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi said 
on Saturday.
   The value of exports to the four countries was Bt50.23 
billion, up by 146.6 per cent. The value of imports was 
Bt12.65 billion, up by 110.8 per cent. Thailand's trade 
surplus has also surged by 161.5 per cent, up by Bt37.57 
billion, compared to the same period last year.
   Exports to Malaysia have risen by 217.8 per cent to 
Bt52.72 billion. The value of exports was Bt41 billion, a 
jump of 222.79 per cent. The value of imports was Bt11.74 
billion, a rise of 201.5 per cent.
   Insecurity on the Burmese and Cambodian borders has 
brought trade problems. Exports to Burma reached Bt2.4 
billion, dropping by 23.64 per cent. The value of exports 
was Bt2.19 billion, a drop of 23.64 per cent. The value of 
imports was Bt217.8 million, a decrease of 8.5 per cent. 
However, Thailand still has a 26.33-per-cent or Bt1.97-
billion trade surplus over Burma.
   Exports to Laos reached Bt4.83 billion, up by 29.1 per 
cent, in this year's first quarter, with an increase of 
51.9 per cent, worth Bt4.45 billion, but a plunge of 52.84 
per cent, worth Bt384.2 million, when compared to the same 
period last year. Thailand has a trade surplus of 92.3 per 
cent or Bt4.06 billion over Laos.
   Supachai said Thailand's Joint Trade Committee (JTC) 
would meet the Burmese in September to help solve border 
trade problems including checkpoints, piers, customs and 
smuggling.
   Thailand faces the same problems with Cambodia, with 
insecurity hampering trade between the two countries. What 
also need to be solved are duplicate procedures like 
customs and livestock inspection.
   The Border Trade Promotion Committee, chaired by 
Supachai, yesterday agreed to cooperate with eight 
government agencies, mainly the Interior Ministry, Foreign 
Affairs Ministry and the Finance Ministry, in reducing the 
duplication of procedures.
   Supachai also said that the Commerce Ministry would ask 
the Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Cambodia to 
facilitate Thailand's export of petrol after the national 
elections in July. Thailand is not able to export the 
product because of UN sanctions.
   In order to increase Thailand's border trade, the 
National Economics and Social Development Board (NESDB) has 
plans to strengthen trade in 11 border provinces. The 
authority will also consult with the Asian Development Bank 
to help solve the problems.
   Supachai added that a border trade information would be 
set up to provide traders with data like product lists, the 
current trade situation and import regulations. The centre 
will also help exporters cope with demands.
   Meanwhile Thailand's export of textile to quota-limited 
markets was worth US$851.2 million,up 21 per cent compared 
to the first quarter last year.
   The other important export markets are the United States 
with a jump of 28 per cent to $551.3 billion, the European 
Union with a slight increase of eight per cent to $276.29 
million, Canada with an increase of 41 per cent to $21.05 
billion and Norway up by nine per cent to $2.47 billion.
   Supachai attributed these increases to Thailand's 
concentration on exporting value-added products, especially 
branded goods.