BANGKOK, 18 April 2019 (NNT) – The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) will organize a Southern Border Trade Fair to provide knowledge to entrepreneurs in preparation for accessing the Malaysian market. The event will provide a platform for business negotiations and stimulate the economy, trade and investment in the three southern border provinces.
The Southern Border Trade Fair is scheduled for April 26-28, 2019, at Maharaj Stadium, Su-ngai-Kolok district, Narathiwat province. It is a collaboration of Narathiwat, DFT, the Thai Ministry of Commerce, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia and the government agencies of Malaysia to increase the value of Thai-Malaysia border trade, stimulate the economy, trade, and investments in the southern region, especially in the three southern border provinces (Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani), develop SMEs and engage entrepreneurs, as well as promote cooperation and strengthen relations between the government and private sector of Thailand and Malaysia at the local level of both countries.
DFT Director-General Adul Chotinisakorn stated that Malaysia is the number one border trade partner. It shares 11 trade border crossing points with Thailand. Narathiwat has been designated a special economic development zone, therefore it is an area with high potential for organizing the border trade fair because there are three permanent trade border crossing points and the border trade value is at least 3.6 billion baht, second only to Songkhla. Malaysia still has demand for food products and Thailand has potential in food products especially those that meet the halal standard.
The event will feature over 120 booths selling quality products from the southern region and some products from northern Thailand as well as products from Malaysia. The products include food and beverage products, health and beauty products, fashion and lifestyle products and home utensils and appliances. Most importantly, the DFT will organize a joint meeting between the local government and private sectors to consider unlocking trade barriers between the two and open a border trade clinic to develop border traders for international trade. It is expected that at least 20 business pairs will be matched, resulting in instant trading value of at least six million baht and 30 million baht in one year.
