Cross-border trade between Thailand and Myanmar through the Mae Sot-Myawaddy checkpoint totalled more than 60 billion in the fiscal year just ended, a rise of 12.30% over the 2013-2014 year, a senior customs official said on Thursday.
Kitti Sutthisamphan, chief of Tak's Mae Sot customs checkpoint, attributed the increase to the opening of the Mae Sot-Myawaddy-Kawkareik route and preparations for the launch of the Asean Economic Community in December.
The annual report from Mae Sot customs said cross-border trade in the 2015 fiscal year ending Sept 30 stood at 66.8 billion baht. Trends pointed to future increases continuing.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier announced a policy to increase cross-border trade to 100-200 billion baht a year. He made the projection during an inspection of the special border economic development zone in Mae Sot district early in September.
The border district is a major gateway to Myanmar and handles the majority of land-based trade between the two countries. It is also a key point on the East-West Economic Corridor, where transport routes between Thailand and Myanmar meet.
Thai exports to Myanmar include mobile phones, beer, petrol and diesel. Imported goods from Myanmar include cattle, peanuts and minerals.