The intensity of the trade integration of Thailand with the Mekong region is, however,
still behind that with advanced ASEAN in the 2000s, as indicated in the estimation
outcomes that Thailand’s import integration with theMekong region is far belowthatwith
advanced ASEAN, whereas its export integration with the Mekong region nearly catches
up with that with advanced ASEAN in the 2000s. We speculate as to the possible reasons
for the immaturity of the trade integration with the Mekong region as follows.