In the morning of April 3rd , Mr. Damrong Kraikruan – Director of Southeast Asia Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and staff of Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA) had a meeting with representatives of Danang's departments. The delegate's main purpose was to study the cities of the development potential in the near future in Southern Laos, North-Eastern Cambodia and Central Vietnam to advise the Thai government in the formulation of policies to proceed the cooperation between this country and others in the region, especially through the EWEC
At the meeting, Mr. Damrong Kraikruan highly appreciated the outstanding development of Danang City in the recent years and its strategic location for logistics, transportation and exchange of goods. He said the road No.9 is the most important route connecting Thailand and Vietnam, but it has not been effectively used due to some problems. At the moment, the section of EWEC in Laos was severely degraded but the maintenance had been deferred for the lack of funds. In addition, the difference in driving between Vietnam and Thailand (right and left-hand drive vehicles) resulting in increased transportation cost lowered the attractiveness of this route. In his observation, the traffic on the road no.9 was quite busy. In order to maximise benefits from trade, investment and tourism activities via this route, he hoped that the countries along the EWEC would cooperate to call for investment and expansion of the two-lane road to a four-lane one, together with upgrading the quality of the road in Laos.
Mr. Kraikruan presented the example of Thailand and Malaysia governments' effort in acknowledging driving licences of each other, which helped to increase the number of road travellers to 3.6 millions last year.
He also suggested Danang should further promote and provide information about the city investment environment to Thai businesses, in order to strengthen the commercial and investment cooperation between the two economies.
Translated by Ha My- IPC Danang
