The Phnom Dey International border is open for trade once again. It had been closed since March 18 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Heng Chivoan
Thai-Cambodia border affairs officials have confirmed that Thailand has agreed to re-open the Phnom Dey International border to trade after it was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thai authorities banned travel between the two countries on March 18 but allowed goods to be exchanged via lorries at the O’Smach and Poipet International checkpoints and the Doung border. Transporting goods by oxcart was no longer permitted.
With all trade being channelled through only three borders, long queues formed and goods were often delivered late, prompting Cambodian officials to approach Thailand with a request to open more borders.
On April 7, Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Um Reatrey and Border Affairs Office deputy director Pich Vanna led a working group to meet with Thailand’s Sa Kaeo provincial governor Woraphan Suwannus and other Thai officials in Thailand’s Khlong Loek village in Aranyaprathet district to discuss the trade situation.
At the meeting, Cambodia requested Thailand to re-open three borders – Phnom Dey International border and the Malai and O’Snguot borders – to make it easier to trade crops between the countries.
Vanna told The Post on Thursday that Thai officials had sent a formal letter on Monday agreeing to re-open the Phnom Dey International border.
As part of the agreement, Cambodia agreed to import pigs and other goods from Thailand.
He said Cambodian officials required Thailand to abide by the laws of the country, including checking the goods thoroughly before they were shipped.
Once the Phnom Dey border was opened, a sense of normalcy returned as goods flowed freely through the checkpoint.
“Goods are being imported and exported through the four checkpoints. But the travel ban on people is still imposed,” Vanna said.
He said when Thailand initially closed the borders, over 70,000 Cambodian migrant workers rushed back into the country via small gates or through one of the international checkpoints.
Over the last few days, between 100 and 200 more workers have been streaming back into the country, he said.
