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Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand 's cross-border trade is expected to recover to growth of 3-6 percent this year, spurred by COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the global economic recovery. According to Keerati Rushchano, Director-General of the Thai Foreign Trade Department, cross-border trade, which includes transit trade, is likely to generate 1.36-1.40 trillion baht (44.6-45.9 billion USD), up from 1.31 trillion baht in 2020. Last year, overall border trade, including transit trade, declined 1.7 percent from the year before mainly because of the pandemic and the closed border checkpoints to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, in addition to the strong baht. Of last year's figures, exports represented 766 billion baht, down 2.16 percent year-on-year, while imports shrank by 1.05 percent to 553 billion baht, resulting in a trade surplus of 213 billion baht. Border trade with four neighbouring countries amounted to 760 billion baht, down 8.01 percent year-on-year. Malaysia was the biggest partner by value, with two-way trade totalling 249 billion baht (down 9.1 percent). It was followed by Laos at 190 billion baht (down 3.85 percent), Myanmar at 165 billion baht (down by 14.7 percent) and Cambodia at 156 billion baht (down by 3.15 percent). Transit trade, mainly with Singapore, Vietnam and southern China, rose 8.41 percent last year to 559 billion baht. Transit trade with southern China and Singapore went up by 20 percent and 17.2 percent, to value 238 billion baht and 88.7 billion baht, respectively. Transit trade value with Vietnam and other countries fell by 1.3 percent to 172 billion baht. Keerati pledged to accelerate negotiations with neighbouring countries to promote border trade by reopening more border checkpoints that were closed because of the outbreak. Only 39 of 97 border checkpoints are reopened./. VNA …

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Samut Sakhon 's Central Shrimp Market, the epicentre of the second wave of COVID-19 in Thailand, reopens on March 1, after being closed 10 weeks ago. (Source: Bangkokpost) Bangkok (VNA) – The Central Shrimp Market in Thailand’s coastal province of Samut Sakhon – the epicentre of the country’s second COVID-19 wave – reopened on March 1 after being closed since December 19. The market was crowded with traders, buyers and migrant workers who must all strictly follow measures imposed to prevent the spread of the virus. Trucks delivering seafood to the market, and the vehicles of sellers and buyers, must all go through screening points. The temperatures of all occupants are checked and they must show proof they have been tested for COVID-19 . All migrant workers at all fish and shrimp piers must wear face masks and protective gear such as gloves, rubber boots and rubber aprons, in line with the standards set by the Public Health Ministry. Traders and owners of fish and shrimp stalls all expressed their delight when the market had finally reopened after being closed for over 10 weeks. The province's accumulated COVID-19 cases during the third wave rose to 16,377, of whom seven have died. On the same day, Thailand logged in 80 new COVID-19 infections, putting the national tally at 26,031, including 83 deaths. Thailand kicked off its COVID-19 inoculation campaign a day prior, with cabinet ministers, health officials and medical professionals among the first in the queue to receive vaccinations. The first doses of vaccine, developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, were given to Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also the health minister, among others at an infectious diseases institute on the outskirts of Bangkok. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, 66, also attended the event, although his age falls outside the range of 18 to 59 suitable to receive Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine, so he did not get it. Thailand received its first …

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Hanoi (VNA) - Japanese trading house Toyota Tsusho Corp. is acquiring an equity stake in ATP30 Public Co., a commuter bus operator for industrial estates in Thailand, to promote smart mobility for its services. Toyota Tsusho said last week that the trading arm of the Toyota Motor Corp . group is purchasing a 9.5 percent stake in ATP30 for 64.35 million baht (2 million USD) through its local unit, Toyota Tsusho Thai Holdings Co. The acquisition procedure is set to be completed in early March, a Toyota Tsusho official said. The partnership will enable Toyota Tsusho to provide ATP30 with its mobility-related digital technologies to boost the safety and efficiency of commuter bus services, mainly for Japanese businesses operating in Thailand. The company's solutions system will also help optimise bus allocation plans for better vehicle occupancy, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and alleviate traffic congestion, it said. TT Techno-Park Co., a Toyota Tsusho unit running industrial estate commuter buses in eastern Thailand, is also involved in the smart mobility program being undertaken in three stages. TT Techno-Park President Takayuki Tatsuta said that the first stage, already in practical use, sets the most efficient bus routes and is designed to help businesses cut commuting expenses by 10 to 20 percent. The second stage, to be put in place late this year, aims to allocate buses according to the number of plant workers leaving after putting in overtime, Tatsuta said. He added enabling employees to book cyclic buses via smartphones is likely to become operational next year or later, making way for the final phase./. VNA …

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