Hanoi (NNT/VNA) – Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have jointly officiated the opening of a new road linking the Sadao Border Checkpoint in Songkhla province in Thailand with the Bukit Kayu Hitam Border Checkpoint in Malaysia.
During the ceremony on July 10, the two leaders met at the midpoint between the border gates, embraced, and shook hands before Anwar welcomed Anutin into Malaysia for a luncheon.
The new Sadao Border Checkpoint, located in the Sadao Special Economic Development Zone, is Thailand's busiest land crossing by trade value, handling more than 471.5 billion THB (14 billion USD) in annual imports and exports and serving more than 6 million cross-border travellers each year. Thailand invested about 1.53 billion THB in the new facility to ease congestion and accommodate growing trade and travel.
The complex includes an administrative building, cargo inspection facilities, a passenger terminal, and staff housing. It also features 11 vehicle inspection lanes in each direction, 14 immigration counters on each side, cargo facilities capable of processing eight inbound and eight outbound freight trucks simultaneously, Fast Scan X-ray systems, and high-capacity truck-weighing equipment.
The project includes an 850-metre road connecting the checkpoint to Malaysia's Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing and to Highway No. 4, part of the Asian Highway AH2. Officials expect the new route to speed up cargo movement, lower transportation costs, increase cross-border trade, and support tourism and economic activity in Songkhla and Thailand's lower South./.
Thailand to open new border checkpoint bordering Malaysia to boost trade, tourism
According to the Thai Government, the new checkpoint is located between boundary markers 23/9 and 23/10 and will replace the existing crossing between markers 22 and 23. It will operate daily from 5:00 to 23:00.
