Land Bridge project requires second look
A revised transport network that connects China to western Thailand via a new deep-sea port in Ranong could serve as a more viable alternative to the Land Bridge project, which is considered less feasible, says a banker.Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul recently announced the government would review the Land Bridge project to ensure it represents good value for investment, and may initially focus on connecting the "missing links" between ports on the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as other parts of the country to those ports.
Kobsak Pootrakool, senior executive vice-president at Bangkok Bank (BBL), said if the full-scale Land Bridge project proves difficult to implement, the priority should be developing western seaports and the connecting infrastructure, which has long been advocated.
Speaking following a visit to China with the government over the past weekend, Mr Kobsak said Chongqing could be a key market because cargo from the area could be transported through Thailand's western ports for onward shipment to India, the Middle East and Europe, offering a more convenient route than via Shanghai.
Postponing the Land Bridge project and focusing on the completion of port development offers a greater chance of project success, he noted.
