Thailand advances Land Bridge project with foreign interest

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has announced that the government is still moving forward with the Land Bridge project. This megaproject aims to connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. Interest has been shown from countries including China and those in the Middle East. Mr. Suriya, who is also a deputy prime minister, emphasized the government's commitment to the 1 trillion-baht initiative. Recently, he promoted the project to potential investors during an overseas roadshow. Companies from the Middle East and China, such as Dubai Port World, are eager to join the bidding process. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) is working on a new bill. This Southern Special Economic Development Zone (SEC) Bill is crucial for the project and was posted on the OTP website for public feedback. There will be a seminar next month in Bangkok and Surat Thani to involve stakeholders. After gathering feedback, the bill will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for review. The government hopes to get the SEC Bill approved by the cabinet in May before it goes to parliament. Mr. Suriya is optimistic it will be passed this year. This approval will set the stage for the bidding process next year. The Land Bridge project is vital for improving maritime transport and boosting Thailand’s economy. It will be developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The private sector will handle construction and management for 50 years. This includes upgrading Chumphon Port into a modern deep-sea port and enhancing Ranong Port as a freight container hub connected to South Asia and the Middle East. The SEC Bill will help establish the main agency for managing land use and development.