Cross–border commodity exchange between Vietnam and Cambodia is thriving thanks to their shared border of 1,270km with 10 international and 37 main and auxiliary border gates, and nine border economic zones.

Bordering Cambodia , the southern province of An Giang now has two international and two national border gates and many auxiliary entry points, which play a crucial role in connecting Vietnam ’s provinces in the Mekong Delta and the neighbouring country.

An Giang serves as a gateway through which local commodities are able to access the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market.

Last year, cross-border trade turnover reached 1.76 billion USD, a 24 percent year-on-year surge.

According to An Giang’s Customs Department, its import-export turnover reached 793 million USD in the first half of this year, up by 31 percent from last year’s figure.

Since 2009, the province has stepped up trade and investment promotion activities and held various border fairs to introduce quality Vietnamese goods.

International trade-investment-tourism fairs are held annually in Tinh Bien district to attract domestic enterprises and those from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

An Giang’s exports to Cambodia reached 572 million USD in the year’s first half, up by 35 percent against the same period last year, noted Mai Thi Anh Tuyet, Director of the provincial Industry and Trade Department.

Exports to Cambodia include key goods like construction materials (cement and steel), groceries, fertiliser and other agricultural materials.

The high trade growth is attributed to import-export policies and mechanisms annually updated and adjusted by Vietnam and Cambodia’s Governments.

An Giang together with Cambodian provinces have often held working sessions to promptly remove arising difficulties and facilitate goods exchanges and trade promotion.

However, cross-border trade activities still confront certain barriers in administrative formalities and unsuitable regulations, particularly the issue of permission to vehicles passing through border gates.

To ease difficulties, Vietnam’s Prime Minister recently approved regulations on operating activities in land border gates to intensify trade support services and import-export activities.-VNA