VN, Cambodia look to step up cross-border trade

Measures to boost cross-border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia topped the agenda at a conference held in the Mekong delta province of Long An on May 6.
Measures to boost cross-border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia topped the agenda at a conference held in the Mekong delta province of Long An on May 6.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and Cambodia ’s Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh joined a number of representatives from concerned ministries, border provinces and businesses from both countries.

The participants discussed various ways of facilitating the flow of commodities between the two neighbouring countries, including ways of simplifying administrative procedures at border gates and upgrading the technical infrastructure of border areas.

They emphasised the need to encourage businesses from both countries to invest in services that support cross-border trade, promote the role of border economic zones further and develop a network of markets along the shared border from now until 2020.

Stepping up the exchange of management experience, combating smuggling and trade fraud and preventing social evils are also seen as necessary steps to foster Vietnamese-Cambodian trade relations.

Despite the adverse impacts of the global financial crisis, cross-border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia posted a year-on-year rise of 30 percent in 2009.

During the first quarter of this year, export-import turnover via border gates reached 432.5 million USD, up 127 percent from the same period last year./.

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