July 07, 2020: Thailand will reopen border speedboat terminals, closed for over three months due to the Covid-19 outbreak on July 6, to ease commodity flow at Myawady, Myanmar’s busiest border trade town, according to a meeting held in Mae Sot by Tak Province administrative officials.
Tak Province Governor Orassit Samphantharat said 33 cross-border jetties would reopen to speed up bilateral border trade.
Although the reopening of 33 jetties on July 6 has been confirmed, No (1) Friendship Bridge has yet to reopen.
The jetties have been planned to operate speedboats across the Thaungyin River as a priority to bilateral trade activities. But, the movement of the two peoples through the jetties will continue to be restricted. Previously, thousands of people including migrant students used those jetties.
“Thailand seems to be easing restrictions step by step. No (1) Friendship Bridge is likely to reopen soon,” said a local resident from Myawady.
