Boten is a city in Luang Namtha on the Lao-Chinese border, opposite the autonomous prefecture of Xishuangbanna in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan bordering Myanmar and Laos. Boten has recently begun to regain its former prominence as a significant business hub in Laos. This commercial metropolis originally prospered as a city for Chinese entertainment, with buildings owned by Chinese investors to house casinos that are illegal in China. Due to the ban, casino operators sought to conduct business in neighboring countries.  Boten has been one of the most sought-after areas due to its proximity to Yunnan Province in the southern part of China.

In 2007, Boten entered a prosperous period. The original extensive paddy fields were turned into a magnificent landscape of well-constructed tall buildings housing hotels, casinos, entertainment venues, restaurants, and retail stores. The economy was thriving with many Chinese tourists arriving every day.  Since casinos are banned in China, Chinese gamblers had to cross the border to Boten. Two years later, there was an incident in which casino operators detained Chinese gamblers who were unable to pay their debts, prompting the Chinese government to impose stricter requirements for entry into Laos. China also cut off electricity to Boten and asked Laos for assistance in closing down casinos in Boten. After that, Boten became an abandoned city whose economy had crumbled.

In 2021, the Lao People's Democratic Republic officially inaugurated the Lao-China railway as part of its efforts to advance the country's economic development. The railroad line from Kunming in China to Vientiane is intended to connect Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. With Boten being the first stop when entering Laos PDR via train, it is highly anticipated that it will turn into a transportation hub.  The Lao government has granted Hong Kong's Phuc Hong Travel Company a concession to create a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that will feature factories, offices, duty-free stores, international bus terminals, train stations, and golf courses, thereby increasing Boten's chances of recovery.

Realizing the promising potential to improve transportation even further, China and Laos held a meeting in June 2021 to sign an MOU for an expressway project, which entailed constructing an expressway parallel to the Lao-China Railway, connecting Bo Kaeo and Boten in Lao PDR.  Currently, the R3A Road, a two-lane road that traverses rugged terrain, serves the route. Due to poor road conditions, it might take transporters up to five hours to go a mere 176 kilometers. 

This Huai Sai - Boten expressway will reduce travel time from five hours to just ninety minutes, and its elevated structure will make commuting simpler and safer.

Both the Laos-China railway and the Huai Sai-Boten Expressway Project will considerably promote the economic growth of Boten. As the first train station into the Lao PDR, Boten will experience a resurgence of economic vitality. When the Huai Sai-Boten Expressway is completed, Boten will become a new transportation hub and a special economic zone stimulating the economy with industries, office buildings, and duty-free stores. This astonishing development will benefit not only China and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, but Thailand as well. China's primary purpose is to construct an economic link connecting Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore via the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Thai entrepreneurs interested in trading and investing in Lao PDR can contact the Siam Commercial Bank Vientiane Branch for advice and financial support for increasing the flexibility of running their business.

Information courtesy of Siam Commercial Bank, Vientiane Branch:

https://www.scb.co.th/th/corporate-banking/international-network/laos.html

Sources: 

1.      DITP. file:///D:/Users/s62013/Downloads/597286.pdf (Search on 22 November 2021)

2.      ASEAN Information Center. http://www.aseanthai.net/mobile_detail.php?cid=2&nid=9791 (Search on 22 November 2021)

3.      Thai Publica. https://thaipublica.org/2021/02/pridi230/ (Search on 22 November 2021)

4.      Top News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohgXrfGq7eA (Search on 22 November 2021)

5.      http://www.gamblingstudy-th.org (Search on 22 November 2021)