BANGKOK, July 30 (TNA) – The value of border trade increased slightly in the first half of this year and promotional campaigns are expected to boost it further.
Adul Chotinisakorn, director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade, said the value of border trade in the first half of 2019 amounted to 686.44 billion baht, rising by 1.16% year-on-year. The amount consisted of 381.70 billion baht worth of exports and 304.73 billion baht worth of imports, resulting in a trade surplus of 76.97 billion baht.
Malaysia was the biggest trading partner for border trade with the trade value of 271.60 billion baht, followed by Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
For trade in transit goods, China was the biggest trading partner with the trade value of 59.54 billion baht, up by 39.45%.
Mr Adul expected border trade would expand in the second half of this year and his department would promote the networks of young Thai operators and their counterparts in the neighboring countries and organize trade fairs with them to stimulate border trade. He hoped to see the annual value of border trade reaching 1.5 trillion baht. (TNA)