khonthakek wrote:

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Laos signs agreement to smooth regional transit News Desk Vientiane Times Publication Date: 24-02-2010

Commercial trucks from Laos , Thailand and Vietnam will now be able to pick up and deliver goods in each other's territory without reloading after the signing of the Customs Transit Guarantee System. The Lao Customs Department and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport's Lao International Freight Forwarders Association (LIFFA) have signed an agreement on the operation of the GMS Customs Transit Guarantee System (CTS). Under the agreement, the Lao Customs Department authorises LIFFA to provide guaranteed services to Vietnamese and Thai trucks carrying goods that are transiting through Laos . The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Vientiane by LIFFA President Prachith Sayavong and Customs Department Director General Santiphab Phomvihane. Mr Prachith said the signing signalled the implementation of the system at all border checkpoints, but “it might take some time before the system is fully enforced.” “This will help to promote trade in the region through a reduction in transport costs. It will take less time to obtain the correct documents and there will be less money to pay.” The CTS is a scheme designed to facilitate the efficient movement of goods in transit, under a system of secure seals and motor vehicles, standardised declaration documents and a reliable guarantee mechanism protecting the interests of all stakeholders. With CTS, only one guarantee is used for the transit of goods through all transiting countries signatory to the agreement. Earlier, the Thailand and Vietnam Automobile Transport Associations signed a similar agreement with their respective customs departments to facilitate the operation of the CTS. The system is one of the mechanisms for implementing the Cross-border Transport Agreement (CBTA) among the Greater Mekong sub-region (GMS) countries. The agreement applies to selected and mutually agreed upon routes and points of entry and exit in the signatory countries. Under the ADB-assisted GMS Economic Cooperation Programme, GMS countries have forged a cross-border transport agreement, which ensures the smooth movement of people and goods across borders. The agreement provides a practical approach to streamline regulations and reduces nonphysical barriers in the sub-region. “The CBTA provides a legal instrument enabling the crossing of borders for vehicles, drivers, and goods,” said Mr Yushu Feng, senior economist in ADB's Southeast Asia Department. “With the CBTA, time spent at borders will be reduced through the CTS and single window inspection, improved border facilitates communication systems for information exchange, and advanced information for clearances,” he added. The ADB is planning to organise a meeting on the initial operation of the CTS along the East-West Corridor and conduct a hands-on demonstration on how to use CTS documents and to exchange bank guarantee letters between guarantee organisations. In November 1999, the governments of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam signed the agreement. Cambodia acceded to the CBTA in 2001, followed by China in 2002 and Myanmar in 2003.

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This will now make it easier to transport drug between Thailand and Vietnam.  Also there'll also be less work for Lao workers.  But this is what good neighbouring countries should do anyway.