Thailand is pushing for closer economic cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia to expand markets, create jobs and raise incomes across its 14 southern provinces.
Thanadit Raktabutr, vice-minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, attended the 32nd Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Ministerial Meeting in Medan, North Sumatra, on Sept 10.
Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas assigned Mr Thanadit to serve as Thailand’s minister responsible for the IMT-GT programme.
The meeting was chaired by Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs, and attended by Malaysia’s economy minister and representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asean Secretariat.
Thailand’s delegation included Sasithorn Palattadej, deputy secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council and Thailand’s IMT-GT senior official, and Trang governor Songklod Sawangwong, who headed the Thai delegation to the Chief Ministers’ and Governors’ Forum. Governors and deputy governors from the 14 southern provinces, private-sector representatives and officials from relevant agencies also attended.
The ministers reviewed progress under the IMT-GT Implementation Blueprint 2022-2026 and discussed the 2027-2031 plan, which aims to shift the focus from short-term activities to cross-border projects with clear targets, measurable outcomes and lasting benefits.
“The IMT-GT meeting is not distant from people’s everyday lives,” Mr Thanadit said. “Its ultimate purpose is to help farmers earn better returns, give businesses access to larger markets, make cross-border travel and freight more efficient, and create jobs and new skills for young people in southern Thailand.”
Key areas of cooperation include improving transport infrastructure and customs, immigration and quarantine procedures. The link between Thailand’s new Sadao border checkpoint and Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam complex is expected to reduce transport times and costs, benefiting border businesses, logistics operators and local communities.
The three countries will also use technology and innovation to support young farmers and strengthen value chains for rubber, palm oil, food and medicinal plants. A memorandum of understanding on palm oil cooperation signed at the meeting covers trade, sustainability, research, product development and competitiveness, with expected benefits for smallholders, cooperatives and Thai businesses.
Cooperation on the halal economy aims to improve specialist training, certification and cross-border trade in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, healthcare and tourism. This would help Thai small and medium-sized enterprises reach markets in Malaysia, Indonesia and the wider Muslim world.
Integrated tourism routes and packages, including culinary, Muslim-friendly and responsible tourism, are intended to draw visitors and spread income to secondary cities and local communities.
The programme will also promote digital and vocational skills, occupational standards, labour market information, internet and 5G infrastructure, green cities, pollution reduction and climate resilience.
Thung Song Municipality in Nakhon Si Thammarat received a gold award for urban biodiversity and ecosystem management, highlighting the potential for Thai local authorities to serve as regional models for green development.
Mr Thanadit called for closer links between the IMT-GT economic corridors and all eight areas of cooperation, clear targets and monitoring, and greater private-sector participation in project design, investment and implementation.
For Thailand, stronger IMT-GT cooperation is expected to reinforce its role as an economic gateway linking Malaysia, Indonesia and the wider Asean region. It would also connect the Songkhla and Narathiwat special economic zones with regional supply chains, attract investment and improve competitiveness.
Thailand also confirmed its readiness to host the 17th IMT-GT Summit in 2028, when it is due to assume the Asean chairmanship.
“The success of IMT-GT should not be measured by the number of meetings held, but by higher incomes, real jobs, lower costs and a better quality of life,” Mr Thanadit said.