Malaysia–Thailand relations

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Thailand has an upward trend. The 2011 trade value was at US$22.95 billion.[3] In 2015, both Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Bank of Thailand (BOT) agreed to promote the greater use of their currencies to settle trade between the two countries.[12] In 2016, the combined total trade was US$20 billion,[13] with border trade accounted for over 60% of the figure.[14] In March 2017, both countries are determined to see bilateral trade achieve US$30 billion by the following year.[15] The Thai side had submitted several proposals to boost border trade to achieve the U$30 billion target, such as proposing 24-hours or longer custom operation hours at the border to facilitate movement of goods and the improvement of facilities especially in transportation and logistic infrastructure at the border to further improve trade,[16] while Thailand has also been supporting the Malaysian-based proposal for better port connectivity.[17] In September 2017, the Kuala Lumpur Business Club (KLBC) made a business mission to Bangkok to strengthen further business relations and economic co-operation.[18] The delegation also seeking for more investments from Thailand.[19] There is also a Malaysian Thai Business Chamber of Commerce to facilitate trade between the two countries.[20] In December 2017, both countries and Indonesia agreed on a framework where trade between the three countries can be settled in local currencies instead of the US dollar.[21]

In 2019, Thailand Ambassador to Malaysia Narong Sasitorn are looking to enhance its investment in Sabah, particularly in the medical tourism sector and niche tourism packages while at the same time announcing their country interest to be part of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines–East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) through Kota Kinabalu with the development of port and terminal facilities in the city, the Pan Borneo Highway and diversification of industrial base.[22] As a response, Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said they looking forward to welcoming more investors from Thailand in light of the emergence of numerous industries and business sectors in Sabah where further partnerships with Thailand can be developed.[23] Sabah's neighbour of Sarawak also considering to set up a trade office in Bangkok if there is increasing trade volume between Sarawak and Thailand over the next couple of years.[24] The Thai government through its Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said that Thailand is looking to double the number of immigration personnel within the Sadao District border to 100 as well as widen existing roads to six lanes from only four in 2019 as existing checkpoints were said to have been plagued by customs bottlenecks, blocking the entry of goods and tourists as part of their plan to boost trade relations with Malaysia.[25][26][27]

Both countries participate in the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) annually together with other ASEAN countries such as Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore.[28] Both Malaysia and Thailand also announce a plan to replace their border fence into a wall border according to Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan who got the idea from a recent meeting in Laos with Malaysian counterparts.[29]

• Malaysia–Thailand border
• Malaysian Siamese
• Thai Malays