PM proposes measures to boost regional trade

via CAAI

Published: 17/11/2010

Phnom Penh -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday asked regional leaders to strengthen cooperation in dismantling non-tariff measures to boost regional trade as well as facilitate regional trade and investment through regional mechanisms.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in the Cambodian capital, Mr Abhisit affirmed Thailand's commitment to ACMECS and said that the bloc is a special cooperation framework for Thailand.

ACMECS should direct regional collaboration guidelines, as it is the real stage for countries along the sub-Mekong region.

The summit is determined to develop for the mutual benefits of the peoples of the ACMECS' members and for further intergration of the bloc and of ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations), Mr Abhisit said.

He also announced progress on the collaboration on basic infrastructure development under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) framework with Thailand agreeing to allocate Bt4 billion (US$137 million) to the project and soon to co-operate with its partners to develop rail lines to link Thailand with its neighbouring countries.

In this regard he asked for commitment to develop the region under the ACMECS framework and by ACMECS in relation to other nations.

Mr Abhisit suggested that the group should consider reducing and finally doing away with non-tariff barriers considered as obstacles to trade and investment in the region, while advising the setting up of industrial estates and joint production bases along the borders of the bloc's members for further cooperation on industrial development and agriculture.

The prime minister also said that Thailand gives importance to environmental protection and conservation along with climate change and natural disasters.

The environmental issue must be addressed in the bloc's development goals, he said, noting that the ongoing flood situation in the region as challenging for all ACMECS governments and should be dealt with jointly.

The five country leaders of ACMECS - Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam and Thailand, adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration and ACMECS 2010-2012 Plan, where Thailand acts as the centre for human resources development, offering over 200 scholarships among the member countries.