The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has inaugurated a multimodal transport project at Ranong Port, creating a freight transport route connecting China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and South Asian countries via the west coast of southern Thailand.
A recent ceremony marked the launch of the inaugural shipment to Yangon Port in Myanmar, helping elevate Ranong Port’s role as a central maritime trade hub on Thailand’s Andaman coast and linking regional economic networks, said Kriengkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, the PAT director-general.
The ceremony was held to promote a multimodal freight transport route that integrates trucking, rail and maritime shipping.
Ranong Port serves as a strategic hub, expanding trade and investment opportunities across the Asean and South Asian regions. The project also aims to build confidence among customers, operators, international freight forwarders and shipping lines, he said.
Mr Kriengkrai said freight transport from Ranong will take just three days to reach Yangon Port in Myanmar, four days to Chittagong in Bangladesh, and six days to both Chennai in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Previously, these journeys took 14-21 days. This demonstrates the potential to significantly reduce both transit time and transport costs, providing a competitive advantage for Thai and international operators alike.
‘Ranong Port is the only government-operated port located on the Andaman coast and serves as Thailand’s gateway to the Bimstec countries: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan,’ he said.
Bimstec stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
He said the launch not only creates new economic opportunities but also demonstrates the PAT’s commitment to developing Ranong Port into a modern, transparent and sustainable trade and transport hub.
Mr Kriengkrai said the project has received strong support from Thai Transport Centre Co, together with business partners including SCG JWD Logistics Plc, Ever Flow River Group Plc from Myanmar and SPT Smart Creation Co.
Situated in a strategic position on Thailand’s Andaman coast, Ranong Port currently has the capacity to handle both containerised and general cargo.
Ranong has also been touted as the western terminus of the controversial southern Land Bridge project, linked to Chumphon on the Gulf of Thailand by a new land transport corridor.