Tachileik-Mae Sai Bridge reopens after 3 years of closure

Narinjara News, 21 February 2023

The Myanmar-Thailand border trade No. 1 bridge, which has been closed for almost 3 years, was reopened on the morning of February 20.Th e bridge has been closed since the end of March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

U Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs (JACBA), said that the reopening of the bridge would open up the way for border trade, and make it convenient for local businessmen.

“ Both in Thailand and Myanmar, it is convenient for big merchants and businessmen, as well as the local communities, who transport goods by cars and motorcycles,” he said.

The No.1 bridge connects Tachileik town in eastern Shan state and Mae Sai town in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, and is only used by people ,motorcycles and small vehicles, while No. 2 bridge is used only for trucks to pass through.

Due to the political instability in Myanmar since the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, there have been many discussions between the authorities of the two countries in order to reopen the bridge, but the Myanmar authorities have repeatedly rejected it.

Residents with households in Tachileik town will be allowed to stay in Mae Sai town for a week with a Border Pass through the reopened No. 1 Bridge. Similarly the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Bridge, which was closed for nearly 3 years, was reopened on January 12, which is a key point in Myanmar-Thailand border trade.