Thailand, Malaysia seeks to promote cross-border trade
Bangkok
(VNA) – The Thai and Malaysian governments are in talks to construct two new
bridges across Golok River, aimed at boosting cross-border trade, the Thai government's spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek has said.
The project is part
of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) economic development
plan.
The two bridges will connect Sungai Kolok and Takbai
districts in Narathiwat with Malaysia’s Kelantan state. The project was proposed by then Deputy Prime Minister Gen
Prawit Wongsuwan, who is now acting Prime Minister.
The first bridge - Sungai
Golok-Rantau Panjang Bridge - with
six traffic lanes will be built parallel to the existing bridge in Sungai Kolok
district, which is too narrow for large vehicles and cannot be expanded.
The second one will connect downtown Takbai of Narathiwat province
with the Malaysian town of Pengkalan Kubor as part of an 11-kilometre road with
4-6 traffic lanes.
Ratchada said a Malaysian working group will arrive in
Thailand in December to study the construction of a road from the new Sadao
checkpoint in Songkhla province to the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Malaysia’s
Kedah state.
The Thai government expects the new bridges will help promote
cross-border trade and tourism in the southern region and contribute to the sustainable economic growth of local communities in the border provinces of both
countries./.