Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Songkhla province to discuss border trade and mutual cooperation.
Key Meeting on Border Trade
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Sadao immigration checkpoint in Songkhla province to discuss bilateral border trade and other mutual interests. According to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke, the meeting will be held between the two delegations after the prime minister and his team fly to Hat Yai and proceed by car to the checkpoint. The new immigration checkpoint in Sadao district and the Bukit Tayu Hitam checkpoint will also be inspected, with Prime Minister Srettha hosting a lunch for Anwar and his delegates at the Vista hotel.
Boosting Bilateral Trade
Following Srettha’s visit to Malaysia in October, the meeting in Sadao will be a follow-up to discuss boosting bilateral trade between the two countries, as well as easing congestion at the Sadao checkpoint and further cooperation on mutual interests. Malaysia is Thailand’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with both sides aiming to increase bilateral border trade to US$30 billion by 2025. Border trade between the two countries is primarily conducted through the checkpoints in Sadao, Padang Besar, Betong, and Su-ngai Kolok, with over 2.9 million Malaysians visiting Thailand in the previous year.
