Minister sees Land Bridge gains
PUBLISHED: 17 Jul 2024 at 05: 51
The president’s Land Bridge venture will benefit from Myanmar’s shift to shipping export goods over land routes as a result of its civil war, according to deputy transport minister Manaporn Charoensri.
According to Ms. Manaporn, the continuing conflict in Myanmar is putting an end to Thailand’s cross-border business.
In Tak’s Mae Sot city, she claimed, companies are now moving their goods by boat through Ranong Port rather than the land borders.
She had instructed the Port Authority of Thailand ( PAT ) to ensure that Ranong Port’s facilities and staffing levels are set up for incoming goods from Myanmar.
” This is a good chance to reopen cross-border trade routes via Thailand’s southern seas.
It will also support the Land Bridge initiative, which is aimed at constructing a bridge between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, according to Ms. Manaporn.
According to her, the project is a part of the government’s strategy to sustainably promote the Southern Economic Corridor ( SEC ) and connect it to the Eastern Economic Corridor ( EEC ) to add economic value to the nation.
Ms Manaporn added that the Land Bridge project will enhance the country’s farm produce, cash crops, farm animals, and farmers ‘ markets in the southern region and raise the region’s GDP from 2 % to 10 % by attracting private investment.
She added that the southern region’s economy will grow significantly as a result of the project’s opening of factories and business estates, which will enhance local employment. She likewise expressed confidence that Thailand will one day become a worldwide hub for goods supply and water transportation.
However, PAT director-general Kriangkrai Chaisiriwongsuk said Ranong Port welcomed the first cargo boats from Myanmar, including the MCL-4 and Beypore Sultan, on July 5 and 8.
Both boats arrived from Yangon, with MCL-4 carrying 39 tanks with imported goods when it arrived.
Beypore Sultan arrived with 56 pots and left with 35, he said, while it left Thailand last Friday with 56 vessels containing Thai imports.
According to Mr. Kriangkrai, the two boats ‘ goods into Thailand included agricultural products.
With electric supplies and construction supplies, the ships left the nation.