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Customs eased for trade between Thailand, Vietnam
Commercial trucks from Thailand and Vietnam can now deliver and pick up goods directly without unloading and reloading in Laos.
Following the introduction of a regional customs transit system and the exchange of national traffic laws between the two countries and Laos Thursday, overland shipments between Thailand and Vietnam along the East West Economic Corridor – a series of roads from Da Nang, Vietnam, through Laos’ Savannakhet and into Thailand – can now proceed directly to their final destination.
Shipments previously needed to be unloaded and re-loaded in Lao territory.
The latest initiative, in tandem with recently-implemented single-window and single-stop border inspections, aim to reduce overland transport times and boost trade and economic development.
“Ten years after Laos, Thailand and Vietnam first agreed to ease cross-border traffic rules, the promise of that agreement is truly being realized,” Arjun Thapan, director general of Asian Development Bank (ADB)‘s Southeast Asia Department, said.
A total of 1,200 commercial vehicles – 400 from each country – have been provided with initial permits to enter into neighboring countries.
Under the Cross Border Transport Agreement between the countries, some goods shipments can be certified as ‘low risk,’ allowing the shipments to be fast-tracked at border-crossing check points.
Containers with unbroken seals will not be opened for the duration of the transit route, a change expected to impede theft and damage previously caused by multiple container openings and un-loadings.
ADB first supported the development of the East West Economic Corridor through a US$57 million concessional loan in 1999, primarily to fund the construction and upgrade of roads in Vietnam and Laos.
“Building international-standard roads was an important start, but not enough by itself,” Thapan said. “Governments also had to slash the bureaucratic red tape that restricted the cross-border flow of goods and people.
“Because of the progress these countries have made, trade and tourism will prosper further. You can now set out from Thailand, do business in Laos, and arrive in time for dinner at Da Nang in Vietnam – all in the space of a single day,” he said.
Since the completion of the second Mekong Bridge in December 2006 – the last link of the Corridor – trade has already dramatically increased.
Thursday’s exchange of traffic rules and customs transit systems are expected to further reduce transport costs, producing even more dramatic increases in inter-regional trade volumes.
At the 15th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference, which will be held in Petchburi Province, Thailand June 17- 19, government officials from the six GMS nations will discuss measures to strengthen transport, trade and tourism links, boost competitiveness, improve access to social services, increase energy access and security, and protect the environment.
Thanh Nien
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