Border gates: economic link between Vietnam and Cambodia

Busy cross-border trucks, sleepless nights loading and unloading goods, a variety of goods, large quantities continuously exported and imported… That is the breath of life in the border area between Vietnam and Cambodia. This vitality not only shows the economic relationship but also connects the friendship between the two countries.

Departure point of cross-border shipments

At 2 a.m., when most people were still sleeping, the Long Binh border gate area (An Phu district, An Giang province) began to bustle. Trucks carrying goods from Dong Nai, Tien Giang , Soc Trang provinces... were bustling in. Agricultural products from neighboring communes were also quickly transported to the wholesale market, where the goods were classified and packaged, ready for the cross-border journey.

At 4am, three-wheeled vehicles, small trucks and motorbikes rush to the purchasing warehouses, carrying fresh vegetables and fruits for collection. At 6am, a line of vehicles leaves the border gate, bringing fresh agricultural products to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and neighboring provinces. With a distance of only 70km from Long Binh to Phnom Penh, goods can easily be consumed on the same day.

Mr. Tan Quang, a long-time trader at Long Binh agricultural wholesale market, said: “The market for agricultural and aquatic products in Cambodia is very favorable. Many gardeners wake up at 3am to cut vegetables and fruits and just a few hours later the goods have arrived in the neighboring country. Snakehead fish and perch raised in the Mekong Delta are not only favored by Cambodian traders but are also sold as far as Thailand.”

Cabbage gathered at the Ngan Y agricultural business area in Long Binh town (An Phu district, An Giang province) for export to Cambodia. (Photo: An Phu)

An Giang province currently has 5 border gates, including 2 international border gates (Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong), 2 main border gates (Khanh Binh, Vinh Hoi Dong) and Bac Dai secondary border gate. Of which, Tinh Bien international border gate is considered a bright spot thanks to its direct connection with Vietnam's National Highway 91 and Cambodia's National Highway 2. This favorable infrastructure helps reduce transportation costs and promote two-way trade.

In Tinh Bien area, business is most vibrant from 3am to 8am and from 2pm to 5pm. Popular export items from Vietnam include rice, vegetables, fresh fish, while Cambodia supplies rice, mangoes, rubber and other seasonal agricultural products.

Mr. Vo Van Hai, representative of Hai Khanh Huy Import-Export Company Limited, said that his company operates in the field of importing and exporting agricultural products such as rice, vegetables, tubers, fruits, fresh coconuts, dried agricultural products and raw forestry products (except wood, bamboo). The company's strength is importing rice from Cambodia through Tinh Bien border gate to supply domestic enterprises. Short transportation distance and fast customs clearance time help his company save significantly on logistics costs.

Boost for border trade from bilateral agreement

The Vietnam-Cambodia Border Trade Agreement, which took effect on July 20, 2023, has opened a new chapter for trade between the two countries. This agreement not only promotes the exchange of goods but also supports the development of trade infrastructure, logistics and border support services.

Mr. Le Trung Hieu, Director of the Trade and Investment Promotion Center of An Giang province, said that annual international trade fairs in the border area help businesses increase their sales by 10-12%. At the same time, participation in fairs, exhibitions and trade connection conferences in Cambodia has contributed to enhancing trade promotion activities and goods exchange between An Giang and provinces and cities of Cambodia.

According to statistics from the An Giang Trade and Investment Promotion Center, in 2023, import and export turnover through An Giang border gates reached nearly 2.47 billion USD. In the first 3 months of 2024 alone, this figure reached 520 million USD.

As of 2021, Vietnam - Cambodia has developed 11 pairs of international border gates, 11 pairs of main border gates and 26 pairs of secondary border gates. The international border gates have been invested in modern infrastructure, including joint control houses, national gates and internal traffic systems, creating conditions for quick and effective customs clearance. According to the planning of border gates on the Vietnam - Cambodia land border for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Government, it is expected that by 2030, the Vietnam - Cambodia border will have 60 border gates, including 20 international border gates, 14 pairs of main border gates and 26 secondary border gates.

The progress in border trade is a clear demonstration of the close economic relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia. With bilateral agreements and investment in border infrastructure, cross-border trade promises to continue to boom in the coming time, bringing practical and sustainable benefits to both sides.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/cua-khau-bien-gioi-mach-noi-kinh-te-viet-nam-va-campuchia-207971.html