Thailand - Laos discuss trade expansion through SEZ

SAVANNAKHET, 6 March 2015 (NNT) – Officials from Thailand and Laos discussed on the development plan of the special economic zones, aiming to increase trade value by 1.5 times in the next 3 years.

The Thai Minister of Commerce Gen Chatchai Sarikulya, along with delegates from Thai government and private sector join the Lao Minister to the Government's Office Bounpheng Mounphoxay and Savannakhet Governor Souphanh Keomixay at Savannakhet province today, in a discussion on the development of the special economic zone as well as trade and investment expansion.

Both sides had arranged the border trade promotion plan prior to the integration of the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of this year to increase the border trade value of Thailand - Laos at the Second Friendship Bridge border crossing by 1.5 times within 3 years.

The trade value between Mukdahan province in Thailand and Savannakhet province in Laos is estimated to be at 151 billion baht in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce has joined hands with Mukdahan and Savannakhet province to hold the border trade fair in Mukdahan during 5-9 March 2015.

The Minister of Commerce will be presiding over the opening ceremony of the trade fair at 3pm today at the Mukdahan City Hall with retails of selected merchandises such as Blue Flag products, products from the SUPPORT foundation, and export products. There will also be a business matching activity between Thai entrepreneurs and foreign businessmen at the trade fair.

-- NNT 2015-03-06

Hope it involves Beer Laos !

No mention in the article of the downside of SEZs -- the associated social costs. They are wonderful for those who own the manufacturing processes. Wages are kept extraordinarily low and depend on rural labor new to the industrial workforce. Taxes are pretty much done away with, resulting in gutting of social programs and huge and increasing inequalities worldwide. Environmental regulations are largely nonexistent. Worker protections? Forget it. On top of all this, they are usually accompanied by land grabs and corrupt deals made with local powerful elites. All so that disposable clothes and throwaway electronica can be gobbled by mall-strolling consumers...