The two countries have also launched a twin-city project in their border regions, pairing the five southernmost Thai provinces of Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat with the northern Malaysian states of Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Terengganu and Kelantan.
The aim is to improve trade links and boost sales of agricultural produce, including increasing the yield of cash crops and cattle farm produce in Thailand’s southern region.
As for transportation links, Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to revive the Bangkok-Butterworth train service on the west coast. There is also talk of extending Malaysia’s upcoming East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to Thailand via Rantau Panjang and Sungai Golok.
BORDER REGIONS HAVE COMPLEMENTARY INDUSTRIES
Improved transportation links are key for both countries to further improve economic ties in complementary industries, said Amri Bakhtiar, director of the Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (CIMT-GT).
The centre acts as the secretariat for the IMT-GT, an intergovernmental organisation that supports subregional development in the three countries outside their traditional economic zones.
For instance, Amri pointed out that the Thai southern provinces of Narathiwat and Songkhla have special economic zones (SEZs) that focus on the rubber processing and halal industries, respectively.
“Thailand is a major exporter of food products in the world, so it makes sense for them to see halal as a major industry for them to go into,” he told CNA.
“Being a country where the Muslim population is a minority, they see a lot of benefit in cooperating with Malaysia and Indonesia.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-thailand-trade-economy-border-bridge-ecrl-5707816
