Cambodia and Vietnam yesterday inaugurated the O’Yadav International Border Checkpoint in Ratanakkiri province in a move hailed as a boon to the northeastern agriculture industry.
The checkpoint, which is the country’s sixth international land border with Vietnam, is in Cambodia’s O’Yadav district and connects with Vietnam’s Gai Lai province.
Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan represented the Cambodian side at the ceremony, while Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh was there on behalf of the Vietnamese government.
Mr Kim Yan said that economic growth and an increased need for goods transportation plus growing tourism numbers meant a new gate was necessary.
“In future, the two sides plan to continue negotiating to set up more cross-border transport operations through new international border gates, to turn the border area into an example of peaceful cooperation,” Mr Kim Yan said.
“The international border gates will promote the livelihoods of people and economic growth on both sides.”
Chhay Thy, a farmer in O’Yadav district and Pate commune chief, said he hoped the new border gate would help boost sales of his crops.
“Before the border gate, traders would transport our farm produce to sell in Kratie and Kampong Cham before being exported to Vietnam, but now the local border gate means traders can save on transport costs, which could increase profits for us,” he said.
Ratanakkiri deputy governor and provincial spokesman Nhem Sam Oeun agreed the gate would help the local economy.
“This northeastern province is rich in agricultural products. Our goods can easily be transported by land to Vietnam or southern China now we have this international border gate,” he said.
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