Thailand To Develop Mae Sot Economic Zone

The Thai government has approved a plan to set up an 896-hectare special economic zone in Mae Sot district, located on the Thai-Burma border, Thai newspaper The Nation reports. “Transport infrastructure, shipment and distribution centres, duty-free areas, bonded warehouses, one-stop service facilities, single service inspection and customs checkpoints will be part of the special economic zone,†The Nation writes. A second friendship bridge will also be build across the Moei River to Myawaddy City in Karen State, Burma. Currently, cross-border trade through the Mae Sot-Myawaddy area is valued at about US $1 billion, the highest value of all northern Thai border crossings.