THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Laem Chabang to be ‘Rotterdam Port of Asean"

Laem Chabang to be ‘Rotterdam Port of Asean"

THE government plans to transform the deep-sea port in Laem Chabang into the “Rotterdam Port” of Asean.

“Laem Chabang Phase 3 will be an important project as it will (be developed) to become ‘the Rotterdam of Asean’ to help distribute goods from China, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (to the rest of the world),” Vice PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool told a seminar yesterday.
Similar to the Port of Rotterdam, which serves regional shipping traffic and complements London port, which connects Europe to the rest of the world, Thailand is keen to develop its Laem Chabang Port as a regional gateway for Asean and a complement to Singapore, which acts as an international gateway.
Laem Chabang Phase 3 is part of the government’s recently announced Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme covering three eastern provinces that are already home to the automobile and petrochemical industries.
The government wants to leverage the EEC’s central location in Asean to make it a regional hub for transportation and logistics, aviation, industries and tourism.
U-Tapao Airport will be developed as a hub for the new industries of aircraft maintenance and parts manufacturing.
“Airlines can fly their aircraft, taking only two hours from China. AirAsia and other airlines are flirting with us to use U-Tapao Airport as their maintenance bases,” he said.
In its bid to develop local tourism, the government will invite Japanese firms to come in to help develop hot springs.
There are more than 200 spots in Thailand that can become nice tourism destinations as Japanese onsens, he added.
In her keynote speech at the seminar held by the Siam Commercial Bank, Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang said her ministry would next month announce a plan to establish a design centre to help drive the creative economy.
“Innovation isn’t only about science and technology but also creativity such as in designs,” she said.
While the Science and Technology Ministry has been tasked with developing tech startups, her ministry has given weight to traditional SMEs that contribute the lion’s share of the economy.
These SMEs will be encouraged to bring in technologies and designs to enhance their creative capacity.
The national design centre will focus not only on the fashion industry, but also other industries such as industrial design and packaging.
The ministry was also ordered by the prime minister to introduce an urgent project called the ‘Rescue Centre’ to help SMEs in trouble.
Arthid Nanthawithaya , president and chief executive officer of SCB, said SMEs have unavoidably been affected by the economic situation because they are part of the supply chain of large industries, which they have little control over.
To get out of the “OEM” trap, SMEs need to pay serious attention to bringing in innovations and technologies to differentiate their businesses.
“Cost, standards and efficiency are very necessary but they are insufficient,” he said.
Supachai Chearavanont, president and CEO of True Corporation, said that as the “digital wave” was looming as all countries around the world complete their 4G networks simultaneously this year, SMEs should focus on the “5Ds” – demand, digitally-connected, digitisation, dek (young generation) and disruptive technologies.

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