Cambodia spat expected to cost border trade B60bn

Checkpoints could remain closed

- PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

If Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints remain closed until the end of the year, Thailand is expected to lose more than 60 billion baht in border trade, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).

As a consequence, total border trade for this year is estimated to grow by only 1-2%.

Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said if the border remains closed from June to December, the estimated loss in export revenue could surpass 60 billion baht.

This figure is based on last year's total border trade value of 175 billion baht between the two countries, with exports accounting for 142 billion, an average of 11.8 billion per month.