[PHNOM PENH POST]
PRIME Minister Hun Sen yesterday said Cambodia has alternatives to
purchasing Thai goods, as officials claimed two closed border gates in
Oddar Meancheay province have disrupted local commerce.
The premier said the Kingdom could easily look to other markets to supply its needs.
“If
Thailand closes the border, Cambodia will stop purchasing all goods
from Thailand,” he said in a speech yesterday at Phnom Penh’s Peace
Palace.
“If it’s closed, how are goods to be imported? And Cambodia will stop using Thai products from now on.”
He said Cambodia could find ready suppliers in other nations with which it did business, such as Vietnam and China.
“They want to sell a lot of goods to Cambodia,” he said.
Neth
Dara, chief of the Choam Sa-ngam international border crossing, said
yesterday the gate had remained closed beginning on April 22 by
authorities on the Thai side, allowing no bilateral trade to be
conducted. Many locals had also left the area due to increased tensions,
he added.
“This has extremely affected the living standards of
the people, because they cannot exchange goods, and also have to flee
from their jobs and houses,” he said.
O’Smach international
crossing has also remained closed during the fighting, according to its
Deputy Director Nguy Cheang. He echoed complaints that closed crossings
have affected local commerce.
Commercial officials from the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh could not be reached for comment yesterday.
However,
Thai businesspeople are calling for a quick resolution to border
disputes with Cambodia, warning that continued clashes will hurt border
trade and bilateral investment sentiment.
“Authorities need to be
cautious concerning relations, because if they keep fighting, it will
be difficult to negotiate,” said Thanit Sorat, vice chairman of the
Federation of Thai Industries.
He added suggestions that
businesses play a role in restoring the relationship between the two
countries, as outside discussions can be arranged easily.
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