Thai PM Myanmar visit to further bilateral economic, trade cooperation

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is due to arrive in Nay Pyi Taw later on Monday for an official visit to Myanmar, which is expected to promote economic cooperation between the two countries.

It will be Abhisit's return visit to that to Thailand made by his Myanmar counterpart U Thein Sein in April 2008.

Abhisit's trip also followed that to the neighbor by Thai princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in March this year.

U Thein Sein's 2008 visit to Thailand has paved way for promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

During that visit, cooperation between the two governments in a number of sectors were initiated which covered narcotic drug eradication, hydropower, energy, mining, agriculture and industry.

In the fiscal year 2009-10 which ended in March, trade between Myanmar and Thailand amounted to 3.577 billion U.S. dollars, up 16. 2 percent from 2008-09.

Of the total, Myanmar's export to Thailand amounted to 3.169 billion dollars while its import from the Southeast Asian neighbor reached over 408 million dollars, enjoying a trade surplus of 2. 761 billion dollars.

Thailand stood first in Myanmar's normal foreign trade partner line-up, followed by Singapore, China, India, China's Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, but it stood the second in Myanmar's border trade with neighboring countries.

Thailand exports to Myanmar textile, shoes, marine products, rice, rubber, jewelry, motor cars, computer and electronic accessories and vice versa, while importing from the country forestry products, marine products, agricultural produces and natural gas.

In July, entrepreneurs of Myanmar and Thailand met for promoting bilateral trade cooperation.


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