Malaysia and Thailand will set up a joint working group to look intoissues that are a barrier to trade with the aim of boosting bilateraltrade to 30 billion USD by 2018, said Malaysian International Trade andIndustry Minister Mustapa Mohamed.

The minister made thestatement at a joint press conference with Thai Minister of CommerceChatchai Sarikulya at the end of the second Joint Trade Committee (JTC)meeting held in Bangkok on June 28.

Both countries are confidentof clinching increased trade, although bilateral trade fell 1.2 percentto 24.4 billion USD last year, he said, adding that Malaysia exported12.3 billion USD worth of goods to Thailand.

Thailand is Malaysia's fifth largest trading partner and the latter is Thailand's fourth largest trading partner.

Meanwhile, the Thai Minister said the 30 billion USD target is achievable and trade between two countries will increase.

Ina move to boost border trade, he said Malaysia, a rice importer ofThailand, will also look at a proposal to bring rice into the country byroad.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said Thailandagreed to coordinate with relevant authorities to consider Malaysia'sproposal to facilitate registration procedures for pharmaceuticalproducts.

It will consider guidelines for pre-packed fresh and minimally processed agricultural products exported to Malaysia.

The first JTC between both countries was held in 2005 and the third JTC will be held in Kuala Lumpur next year.

Malaysia have had joint trade committee meetings with 20 countries including India, China, Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.-VNA