The chamber of commerce in Thailand’s northern border province of Chiang Rai is teaming up with its counterparts in four Shan State cities to promote greater cooperation in key sectors, the Bangkok Post reported on August 28.
Memoranda of understanding signed with the chambers in Muse-Nam Kham, Kyaingtong, Tachilek and the state capital, Taunggyi, seek to strengthen ties in trade and investment, labour, education and technology, the report said.
The signing ceremony in Taunggyi on August 26 was followed by the launch of Thailand Festival @ Shan, a two-day exposition of Thai products presented by the Thai Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade.
Dignitaries at the launch included Shan State Chief Minister U Linn Htut, its Minister of Finance and Planning, U Soe Nyunt Lwin, and the department’s deputy director-general, Mr Adul Chotinisakorn.
Soe Nyunt Lwin said the exposition should open opportunities to increase bilateral trade, the Bangkok Post reported.
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Adul said the department’s successful Young Entrepreneur Network Development program would be extended to include business people in Shan.
The network brings together young entrepreneurs from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to share knowledge, the report said.
In a separate development, Myanmar Commerce Ministry figures released last week said the value of trade through the Myawaddy border crossing with Thailand in July was more US$71.146 million (about K85.36 billion), more than three times higher than a year earlier.
The value of trade through Myawaddy in July last year was $23.196 million, the state-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar reported on August 24, quoting the ministry figures.
