Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Government will partner with Malaysia to promote a twin-city project in Thailand's southern region, aiming to stimulate its economy.
Thai media reported on June 7 that Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai chaired a meeting to study the progress made in developing the five southernmost provinces, including twin cities, in partnership with Malaysia.
The initiative aims to turn the conflict zones in these provinces into trade arenas in a bid to push for peace, he said, adding that the two Southeast Asian nations will work together to achieve five goals as part of the initiative.
Accordingly, five southern Thai provinces of Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat will be paired with five Malaysian states, namely Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Terengganu, and Kelantan, respectively, Phumtham noted.
The first goal is to form a trade partnership between the two countries, focusing on boosting sales of agricultural produce and lifting bilateral trade measures. This move is expected to increase the yield of cash crops and cattle farm produce in the southern region.
The two sides will also work together to open more halal market channels in Malaysia for Thai farmers and entrepreneurs, establish a comprehensive Thailand-Malaysia trade centre to facilitate trade activities between the two countries, and resume trade activities near the border with Malaysia in the province of Satun after they were stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also aim to form a collaborative task force between Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, and Thailand's Commerce Ministry to drive the initiative./.
