Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin chairs a cabinet meeting in Thailand's southern Ranong province on Jan. 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
RANONG, Thailand, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government will continue to seek foreign investors and public support for a landbridge project linking the Pacific and Indian Ocean, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"After thoroughly researching pertinent data, we are currently working on ensuring understanding for both potential investors and the involved public, inviting investors to participate in and manage the project," government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke told a press briefing after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in the southern Ranong province.
The landbridge project, which was approved by Srettha's government in principle last year, will encompass the building of deep-sea ports at Ranong province on Thailand's Andaman coast and at Chumphon province on the Gulf of Thailand, in an effort to enhance connectivity and provide an economic boost for the country.
Roughly 90 km apart, the two ports will operate under a "one port, two sides" concept, supported by a freeway and dual-track railway lines to connect the ports with each other and with the country's national network. The estimated total cost amounts to 1 trillion baht (28 billion U.S. dollars), according to the Thai government.
Srettha led his cabinet to visit the proposed project site on Monday. He said on social media that the project presents a huge opportunity for the Thai people. He promised that the government would conduct a thorough study. ■
