The Commerce Ministry is targeting border trade growth of 1% this year, attributed to political instability in neighbouring countries, including the armed conflict in Myanmar.
Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said the department set a goal to revive cross-border trade including transit trade after the value contracted by 2.6% last year to 1.74 trillion baht.
He said the department is collaborating with relevant state agencies to facilitate and stimulate cross-border and transit trade (meaning trade via border checkpoints to third countries), working to increase transport channels, extend the operating hours of border checkpoints, establish one-stop service centres and link export-import documents through the National Single Window scheme to streamline trade processes.
"Despite a slowdown in cross-border trade, attributed to challenges such as high inflation, a weak exchange rate in Laos and the conflict in Myanmar, as well as more protectionist measures by neighbouring countries to slow imports and prevent a trade deficit, transit trade expanded in both total value and exports in 2024," Mr Ronnarong said.
The armed conflict in Myanmar is causing concern over a further decline in border trade between Thailand and Myanmar.
The conflict could affect transport and logistics, he said.
The private sector proposed the government speed up negotiations with authorities in Myanmar to facilitate trade, including the issuance of a single licence that covers transport at all border checkpoints, flexibility in using other border checkpoints for the transport of goods if the conflict escalates, and a uniform tax collection system across all checkpoints.
Total border trade between Thailand and Myanmar in March tallied 19.7 billion baht, down 10.3% year-on-year.
Exports amounted to 11.2 billion baht, a decrease of 14.3%, while imports tallied 8.52 billion baht, down 4.45%.
According to ministry data, cross-border and transit trade tallied 422 billion baht in the first quarter of 2024, down by 2.4% year-on-year.
Of the total, exports accounted for 234 billion baht (-2.7%) and imports 188 billion (-2.1%).
In a related development, Mr Ronnarong said Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered the department to move ahead with plans to negotiate government-to-government (G2G) sales of rice to China, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Once the G2G deals are finalised, the government vows to provide equal opportunities for exporters to ship rice, he said.