5. Factors Contributing to Expanding Cross-border Trade
Cross-border trade has been inter-generationally carried out by local inhabitants gradually evolving from a very informal manner to become the more formal system as perceived today. The Department of Foreign Trade (2011) defines cross-border trade as all forms of trade or exchange of goods transacted through border checkpoints by both sides of local people or traders, who reside in provinces or communities along the border. Currently, there are a total of 71 border checkpoints across Thailand. Its specific locations are presented in Figure 2. There are broadly three factors contributing to dynamic cross-border trade in the context of Thailand consisting of cross-border and regional infrastructure linkages, bilateral and regional trade agreements, and regional trade facilitation initiatives.