Two bridges to connect Narathiwat with Malaysia - The Nation

Two bridges to connect Narathiwat with Malaysia

The Nation
December 16, 2012 1:00 am

Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to build two cross-border bridges linking the neighbouring country with Tak Bai and Sungai Kolok districts of violence-plagued Narathiwat province to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, who represented Thailand at yesterday's 12th meeting of the Thai-Malaysian Joint Committee, said the cost of constructing the bridges would be split equally between the two countries.

Construction is expected to begin in 2014. Thai authorities are preparing to spend an initial Bt24 million to design the bridges, which are expected to boost local economic development in the restive South, where years of unrest have resulted in thousands of casualties.

In addition, Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to open a border checkpoint in Sadao district of Songkhla province to promote trade and economic development in the area bordering Malaysia.

Another border checkpoint will be opened at Ban Prakob across from a special economic development zone being developed by Malaysia.

Surapong said border trade between Thailand and Malaysia accounts for a high percentage of bilateral trade volume between the two countries. He said he had also proposed to his Malaysian counterpart that the two countries promote cross-border tourism by rail from the Malaysian border town of Padang Besar to Hat Yai, continuing on to Chiang Mai in the North.

Approximately 1.4 million Thai tourists and 2.5 million Malaysian tourists cross the border annually.