Long An opens to Cambodian trade

via CAAI

January, 13 2011

LONG AN — An international border crossing that links the Mekong Delta province of Long An and Cambodia's Svay Rieng Province officially opened its gates to trade yesterday in Binh Hiep Commune, Moc Hoa District.

The crossing has been upgraded following decisions by the Vietnamese and Cambodian governments to allow trade as well as civilian traffic to pass through, and becomes the 20th official overland international border gate in Viet Nam.

The Vietnamese side border gate, named Binh Hiep, was opened mainly for cross-national border exits and entries of people and means between Viet Nam and Cambodia. Now as the international border gate, it is open for people, means and goods of Viet Nam, Cambodia and third countries to pass through.

Its counterpart across the border, Prey Voa, was also upgraded to an international border gate this time.

The crossing links Viet Nam's National Highway 62 with Cambodia's Route 314 and the Asian transnational highway, connecting countries in the Mekong Subregion with the whole of ASEAN and Asia.

Nguyen Xuan Hong, deputy director of Long An Province's Department of Industry and Trade, said the new crossing would shorten transportation routes. Previously, products manufactured in Long An such as home appliances and fertiliser were exported to Cambodia via roundabout routes through other provinces such as An Giang and Tay Ninh.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Duong Quoc Xuan said in the future, the province would continue to upgrade the 25km road from Moc Hoa District to Cambodia's Svay Rieng City. The province would also quickly apply incentives at Binh Hiep border gate to create favourable conditions for enterprises from both countries to expand co-operative relations and boost imports-exports.

He said plans for a border gate economic zone revolving around Binh Hiep were underway. — VNS