Thai-Myanmar border closure costs 2.7 mln USD a day: Thai minister

The closure of Thai-Myanmar border checkpoint between Mae Sot and Myawaddy costs transborder trade around 88 million baht (2.74 million U.S. dollars) a day, Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said on Monday.

Thailand is now trying to negotiate to settle the problem, the minister was quoted as saying by Bangkok Biz News.

The minister said she would, in a bid to restore normal trade, discuss the matter with her Myanmar counterpart during the 42nd Economic Minister Meeting in August in Vietnam.

She said her ministry would also team up with Labor Ministry to solve labor shortage in export and apparel industries.

Recently, Thai industrial sector has heavily relied on Myanmar' s labor due to inadequate local workforce in its labor market.

Myanmar government had shut down Mae Sot-Myawaddy crossing point since July 18 in response to Thailand's embankment building on the Moei River which it accuses of changing the dynamics of the water flow and possibly leading to erosion on the other side of the river. Crossing of people and vehicles as well as transportation of goods is forbidden since.

Source: Xinhua