Nakhon Phanom, Buri Ram airports upgrade proposed

BANGKOK, September 4 (TNA) -- The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) proposed the Transport Ministry develop the northeastern airports of Nakhon Phanom and Buri Ram provinces into international facilities and seek Malaysian permission for cargo trucks to cross the border from Thailand. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that representatives of the committee met him to discuss the progress of mega transport projects and also proposed the airport upgrade because more people were travelling to Laos and Vietnam through the regional airports. They were also asking the Finance Ministry to deploy customs officials at both airports to promote their international roles, he said. The representatives of the JSCCIB which consists of the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Bankers' Association, sought facilitation for cargo trucks heading from Thailand to Malaysia. That includes the standardization of the regulations on cargo trucks that are different in Thailand and Malaysia. They also proposed the expansion of the Port of Songkhla which was presently congested, Mr Arkhom said. (TNA)