Myanmar and Thailand’s chambers of commerce have held discussions in the Mae Sot Thailand-Myanmar border town to draw up a joint master plan to develop special economic zones in both countries, according to The Nation.

Myanmar’s Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce agreed October 15 that the setting up of the special zones would help promote trade, industry and tourism growth for the two nations under upcoming ASEAN integration.

Myanmar plans to set up such zones in Myawaddy, Pha An and Mawlamyine, while Thailand has plans for Mae Sot, Mae Ramat and Phop Phra in Tak, Sing Khron in Kanchanaburi, and Mae Sai in Chiang Rai.

Somkiat Anuras, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said Thailand and Myanmar had agreed to establish a bilateral committee on Thai and Myanmar special economic zones to proceed with ideas for their development, according to the newspaper.

Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of both the Thai Board of Trade and Thai Chamber of Commerce, said that currently about one-third of Myanmar's global trade value is contributed by commerce with Thailand, with most of it being cross-border trading.