More cross-border activities to enhance M’sia-Thai bilateral trade

KUALA LUMPUR: Encouraging greater cross-border trade and investments will help both Malaysia and Thailand in achieving US$30 billion (US$1 = RM4.29) worth of bilateral trade by 2018, said the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM).

Vice-president Datuk Liew Sew Yee said the Thailand Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade (TCC/BOT) had submitted proposals to boost border trade, which accounted for over 60 per cent of the current trade between both countries.

He said they have proposed for a 24-hour custom operation at the border to facilitate movement of goods.

“Both countries should also improve facilities such as transportation and logistic infrastructure at the border to further improve trade. We will study these requests and speak to the government,” he told reporters after a visit by a 60-member trade delegation from the chamber and the board yesterday.

During the half- day visit, delegation members were briefed by NCCIM on investment opportunities in Malaysia and the local halal market including networking sessions.

Yee said trade with Thailand, the country’s fifth largest trading partner, amounted to US$20.83 billion in 2016, and MalaysiaThailand border trade accounted for over 60 per cent of this figure.

The border trade brings in an average of US$ 14.4 billion annually, he said.

Thailand mainly exports petroleum, auto and computer parts, food products and electrical appliances to Malaysia while Malaysia’s exports comprised crude petroleum, transport equipment, steel products, processed food and, chemicals and chemical products, said Yee.

He said Asean border trade activities – such as the border trade fairs held in Hatyai in 2015 by the Thai government and in Kelantan last year by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation should be turned into an annual event.

Yee also said while Thailand was a top global food exporter, the issue of halal status was the key reason preventing food products from the kingdom to penetrate the Malaysian market. — Bernama