Thailand proposes Myanmar to use single-window system

BANGKOK, October 10 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has proposed to Myanmar President Thein Sein for the two neighbouring countries to adopt a single-window system, aimed at eradicating goods smuggling, and to consider jointly develop a trilateral highway, linking Thailand with Myanmar and India. Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi told TNA on Thursday that Premier Yingluck made the proposals during her bilateral talks with the Myanmar President on the sidelines of the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related forums, being held in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital. Teerat elaborated while both the Thai and Myanmar leaders agreed to further boost cross-border trade, they found that goods smuggling is rampant, causing the two countries to have lost a huge amount of tax and the Thai prime minister, thus, proposed the imposition of the single-window customs system, with Thailand prepared to support knowledge and technologies for mutual benefits. According to the spokesman, the Thai prime minister also proposed that senior customs officials of the two neighbouring countries to hold talks and find ways in plugging the loophole. The single-window system enables international or cross-border traders to submit regulatory documents at a single location to boost efficiency and save costs for traders in their dealings with government officials for obtaining relevant clearance and permits for moving cargoes across the borders. Regarding Myanmar’s Dawei Deep Seaport Project, both the Thai and Myanmar leaders also agreed to find more investors from other countries to invest in the joint mega project. Besides, the spokesman acknowledged, the Thai prime minister, who is also defence minister, asked the Myanmar President to consider building a highway which would link between the two countries with India. The Thai government spokesman noted that the Myanmar side reportedly agreed with the idea, as it could help connect between Southeast Asia and South Asia and both leaders agreed to propose the idea to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their talks, set to be held later Thursday. (TNA)