Laos and Thailand aim to boost trade to US$11bil by 2025

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (left)and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone meeting during the official visit to Vientiane.

VIENTIANE/BANGKOK (Bernama): Thailand and Laos agreed to enhance bilateral trade and further expand cooperation including in trade and investment, transportation and logistics to achieve bilateral trade of US$11 billion (US$1 = 35.95 baht) in 2025.

The topic was covered in a bilateral meeting between Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, in conjunction with Srettha’s maiden official visit to Vientiane.

The two prime ministers discussed cooperation in energy, security, and tourism, and they also decided to turn northeastern Thailand and Laos into a boom region, according to government spokeswoman Chai Wacharonke.

"Srettha proposed a new railway bridge across the Mekong River, linking northeastern province of Nong Khai in Thailand and Vientiane, the Lao capital.

"Thailand is ready to provide Laos with special interest rate loan to finance the project,” he said in a statement today.

Chai said Srettha told his counterpart that Thailand is keen to purchase more clean energy from Laos to support industrial growth.

Besides that, he said the two prime ministers agreed to work closely to tackle cross-border air pollution to alleviate impact on public health.

"The prime ministers agreed to speed up the implementation of the joint action plan involving Thailand, Laos and Myanmar to tackle cross border air pollution. Thailand will provide a forest fire risk maps as well as technical training to officials,” he said.

Both Srethta and Sonexay also agreed in principle to build the 6th Friendship Bridge linking Ubon Ratchathani with Salavan in Laos, Chai said.

Meanwhile, Srettha and Sonexay also opened the Vientiane Train Station (Khamsavath). The train station is a cooperation project between the two governments through the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA).

"The new station will enable passengers from Thailand to travel by train to the city centre of Vientiane. This will promote tourism connectivity and boost the local economies of the border regions of Thailand and Laos,” Chai said. - Bernama