Border dispute may hurt trade: Cambodian official

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- With violence erupting on the Cambodia-Thai border, government officials and investors warned that the dispute could affect bilateral trade, tourism and investment between the two countries, the Phnom Penh Post reported Thursday.

"Imports of Thai goods have declined lately because many Thai business people fear they will not be able to collect payment from Cambodian whole sellers should the situation on the border deteriorate," Mao Thora, secretary of state at the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

Kong Bunly, the trade director for Banteay Meanchey province, said cross-border with Thailand has remained largely unaffected by the dispute over territory around Preah Vihear, but that Thai tourists have stopped crossing into Cambodia.

Meanwhile, an employee at the Thai Plastic Company who asked not to be identified said she is concerned that any armed confrontation between the two countries could affect her company.

"I'm really worried about this because Cambodian people could stop buying Thai products if fighting breaks out," she told the Post.

"This crisis absolutely impacts Thai business in Cambodia and Cambodian employees employed by Thai companies," she said, adding that her manager had already returned to Thailand because of the border crisis.

Two Cambodian soldiers were killed and several Cambodian and Thai troops were wounded during Wednesday's gunfire exchange between the two neighbors.