Cross-border trade between Thailand and Myanmar through the Mae Sot-Myawaddy checkpoint totalled more than 60 billion in the fiscal year just ended, a rise of 12.30% over the 2013-2014 year, a senior customs official said on Thursday. Kitti Sutthisamphan, chief of Tak's Mae Sot customs checkpoint, attributed the increase to the opening of the Mae Sot-Myawaddy-Kawkareik route and preparations for the launch of the Asean Economic Community in December. The annual report from Mae Sot customs said cross-border trade in the 2015 fiscal year ending Sept 30 stood at 66.8 billion baht. Trends pointed to future increases continuing. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier announced a policy to increase cross-border trade to 100-200 billion baht a year. He made the projection during an inspection of the special border economic development zone in Mae Sot district early in September. The border district is a major gateway to Myanmar and handles the majority of land-based trade between the two countries. It is also a key point on the East-West Economic Corridor.