Myanmar and Thailand are deliberating to establish 10 wholesale markets later this year scattered in both sides of the two countries' border in a bid to boost bilateral trade, the local Myanmar Times reported Monday.

The plan, first proposed by Thailand in 2004, covers the establishment of four wholesale markets in Myanmar territory and six such markets in Thai's to sell export commodities of the two countries, the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce was quoted as saying.

The four in the Myanmar side are in Tachilek in eastern Shan state, Myawaddy in southeastern Kayin state, and Myeik and Kawthoung in southern Tanintharyi division, while the six in Thai side are in Chiang Mai and some towns in Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces, the sources said.

The sources added that the markets are intended to raise trade not only between Myanmar and Thailand but also among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam regionally.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is building a border trade zone in Myawaddy, which is the second largest of its kind after the Muse 105th Mile Border Trade Zone bordering China's Ruili in Yunnan province in its process of transforming border trade system into normal trade one.

According to Myanmar official statistics, Myanmar and Thailand had a bilateral trade volume of 1.207 billion U.S. dollars in the first half (April-September) of the fiscal year 2006-07, of which Myanmar's import from Thailand stood 144 million dollars, while its export to Thailand valued at 1.063 billion dollars.

Their bilateral trade, which includes the border trade, amounted to 1.596 billion dollars in 2005-06 with Myanmar's import from Thailand taking up 237 million dollars and its export to Thailand representing 1.359 billion dollars.

Thailand is Myanmar's largest trading partner.

Source: Xinhua