More border gates to open to Cambodia

http://news.asiaone.com/

via CAAI

Mon, Jan 03, 2011

Viet Nam News/Asia News Network

CAN THO - Viet Nam and Cambodia have agreed to open four more border gates for road transport between the two countries in 2011.

The new border gates that will open next year are: Xa Mat -Trapeing (Tay Ninh and Kampong Cham provinces); Le Thanh - Oyadav (Gia Lai and Andong Pich - Ratanakiri provinces); Hoa Lu - Trapeang Sre (Binh Phuoc and Snoul-Kratie provinces); and Bu Prang - O Raaing (Dak Nong and Mundulkiri provinces).

The new border gates will bring the number of entry points for road transport between Cambodia and Viet Nam from three to seven, according to figures released at a meeting to review the implementation of the agreement on Road Transport between the two countries held in the Mekong city of Can Tho on Monday.

The three border gates currently under operation for road transport between the two countries are: Moc Bai - Bavet (Tay Ninh and Svay Rieng provinces); Tinh Bien-Phnom Den (An Giang and Takeo provinces); and Xa Xia - Prek Chak (Kien Giang, Lork and Kam Pot provinces).

In 2010, Vietnamese and Cambodian authorities granted 205 licenses to 32 transportation companies, mainly dealing in passenger transport, for cross-border services between the two countries.

These companies, mainly running services from HCM City, Tra Vinh, An Giang and Can Tho to Cambodia, operate 185 coaches for passengers and 20 trucks for cargo transport.

Vietnamese experts said at the meeting that there is much greater potential for cargo transportation between the two countries. They said high customs fees and goods transport taxes in Cambodia were to blame for the limited growth so far.

The bilateral agreement on Road Transport was signed by the governments of Cambodia and Viet Nam in 1998.