Cambodian farmers may be able to cut export costs from the middle of the year if an agreement is signed letting them send their produce through the Thai port of Laem Chabang. Soeng Sophary, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Commerce, said yesterday that an agreement and related documents were being drawn up. When this is complete, the ministry would issue a formal letter publicly.
 

Ms. Sophary said the government understands the issues the private sector faces and is drawing up the agreement to help them. At present there is no agreement to export Cambodian agricultural products directly through Thai ports, though it can be done through a Thai intermediary.
 

In June last year, Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak asked Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn for an agreement to facilitate the transit of agricultural products from Cambodia to third countries via the port. Mr. Sorasak added that Cambodia would not take its agricultural products to sell in Thailand and would only move its goods to the port to export to third countries.

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