The expansion of the Highway 12 that connects Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. (Photo: aseannow.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri has announced the country completed theexpansion of the Highway 12 that connects Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
Thailand expectsthe expanded highway will help significantly enhance cross-border economicactivities among the three nations.
Highway 12 is apart of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), a 1,530 km-long route that connects fourSoutheast Asian countries, stretching from Myanmar in the west to Vietnam inthe east.
The Thai government believes that the completed highway willprovide a substantial boost to logistics, trade, and tourism, as it effectivelylinks the Andaman coast to the East Sea.
Approximately 793 km of the EWEC is situated in Thailand starting from the second Thai-MyanmarFriendship Bridge in Tak’s Mae Sot district and passing through Sukhothai,Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, and Mukdahan provinces, where it connects toLaos at Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.
The recently upgraded stretch between Kalasin and Mukdahan with the length of 115.6 km is now a four-lanehighway, costing the government 5.8 billion baht ( 166.88 million USD).
Anucha said thatHighway 12 is expected to promote tourism in the area as well as improve thequality of life of communities along the border.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Finance Ministry hassaid that the EWEC will boosttransborder trade by at least 50%.
According to a report from the Office of the NationalEconomic and Social Development Council, thehighway will also benefit the special economic zones (SEZs) in Mukdahan. Thereare 868 new businesses in the province's SEZs with a value of 1.6 billion baht,Anucha said./.
