Mukdahan SEZ boosts Thailand's border trade, investment

MUKDAHAN,THAILAND, June 14 (TNA) - The establishment of the Mukdahan Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mukdahan Province in the Thai Northeast has cushioned the country's cross border trade and investment. Thai Vice Minister to Commerce Winitchai Chamchang echoed the growing potential of the Mukdahan SEZ, while delivering a keynote speech on the Mukdahan SEZ, entitled "The Logistics Hub & SEZ on EWEC to ASEAN+", in Mukdahan. Winitchai noted that local economies of Thailand's border areas, where sezs have been established, including those of Mukdahan, as well as Tak Province in the Lower Thai North and Sa Kaeo Province in the Thai East, have been remarkably expanding, seen by booming retail and service businesses in the areas, covering hospitals and hotels that now serve more people from ASEAN neighboring countries. According to the vice minister, the situation reflects a new mechanism helping drive forward Thailand's exports and entire economy together with those of neighboring countries. The vice minister suggested that Thai business operators utilize pooled resources in AEC in terms of cheaper raw materials in neighboring ASEAN member countries to cut their production costs for their goods to be exported to international markets. (TNA)