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Bangkok Post News (27/9/98)



Theiland, Burma hold trade talks
Free industrial zone in Burma discussed

Thailand and Burma have worked out a blueprint for border trade
liberalisation aimed at boosting bilateral commercial ties.
A proposal to establish a free industrial zone in Burma was discussed last
week between the two sides in a meeting held in Tak's Mae Sot district.
The Thai side was led by Deputy Commerce Minister Pothipong Lamsam, while
his Burmese counterpart Myo Tint headed the other team.
Under the plan, industrial plants will be built in the zone and supplied
with raw materials and labour from Burma. This is expected to attract
Burmese workers who would otherwise cross into Thailand to seek job.
Suchart Treeratwattana, deputy chairman of Tak's chamber of commerce, said
Thailand had long sought to expand border trading through negotiations with
relevant agencies.
He said that in recent years, Burma had opened its door to foreign
investors who were offered trade privileges for operations along the
country's borders.
Mr Pothipong reportedly asked Burma to lift its ban on exports of some
goods, such as gem stones and seafood, and some livestock animals.
He was also keen to have Rangoon's permission for land travel on 400-km
route linking Thailand's border with Burma's capital to promote tourism.
His Burmese counterpart, Myo Tint, explained that Rangoon had considered
easing its restrictions on the export of artificial flowers, seafood and
fresh-water fishery products.
However, Mr Myo Tint said, Burma would not allow exports of buffaloes of
cows for fear of shortages in the country.
He added Thai investors were welcome to bid for state concessions to mine
for and to trade in gem stones. Bidding is held twice a year in Rangoon.
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