The expansion of the Highway 12 that connects Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. (Photo source: aseannow.com)

Bangkok - Thailand’s government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri has announced the country completed the expansion of the Highway 12 that connects Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Thailand expects the expanded highway will help significantly enhance cross-border economic activities among the three nations.

Highway 12 is a part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), a 1,530 km-long route that connects four Southeast Asian countries, stretching from Myanmar in the west to Vietnam in the east.

The Thai government believes that the completed highway will provide a substantial boost to logistics, trade, and tourism, as it effectively links the Andaman coast to the East Sea.

Approximately 793 km of the EWEC is situated in Thailand starting from the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tak’s Mae Sot district and passing through Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, and Mukdahan provinces, where it connects to Laos at Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.

The recently upgraded stretch between Kalasin and Mukdahan with the length of 115.6 km is now a four-lane highway, costing the government 5.8 billion baht ( 166.88 million USD).

Anucha said that Highway 12 is expected to promote tourism in the area as well as improve the quality of life of communities along the border.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Finance Ministry has said that the EWEC will boost transborder trade by at least 50%.

According to a report from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, the highway will also benefit the special economic zones (SEZs) in Mukdahan. There are 868 new businesses in the province's SEZs with a value of 1.6 billion baht, Anucha said.