Thailand’s transport minister backs Chana port and industrial estate
The transport minister says objections to major projects must be based on reason, arguing that land behind the port at Hua Khao Daeng is at full capacity.
- Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn supports building a second deep-sea port in Chana because the current Songkhla port is at full capacity, cannot be expanded, and is too shallow for large ships.
- He is also backing the revival of the Chana industrial estate, clarifying that it is not a new project but one that was previously approved by the Cabinet.
- The stated goal of the combined port and industrial estate is to revitalize the economies of three southern provinces and create local jobs so younger generations do not have to leave the area for work.
- The minister criticized opposition from NGOs and political parties, stating that objections to government projects should be based on reason and not simply for the sake of protesting.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn addressed resistance to major government projects, most recently the deep-sea port project in Chana district, Songkhla province, on Tuesday (August 18, 2026).
He said everything was grounded in reason.
The government had a duty to present whatever it proposed to develop, while the opposition had a duty to object, but such objections needed to be supported by reasons showing whether the proposal would benefit or harm the country.
If objections were made without sufficient study, he said, the eventual impact would fall back on whatever was being protested against.
Some of those protesting and seeking to block government proposals were opposition parties, while others were non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“Whenever Thailand tries to do something, we can see that it gets caught in the ‘NGO’ trap. Even though the Land Bridge project has already been cancelled, people are still coming back to press for answers about it. I ask fellow Thais to help consider anything they believe would benefit the country. People should not oppose every issue simply because they feel like opposing it, or protest against every issue simply because they feel like protesting. This is the kind of person I am. I speak frankly. Speaking in a roundabout way is not in my nature. If someone challenges me, I respond just as directly,” Phiphat said.
Phiphat also explained that the proposed revival of the Chana industrial estate in Songkhla was not a new project, as it had been approved by the Cabinet under the government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
He said he believed it should be revived.
“As for the second Songkhla deep-sea port, I would like to ask whether the protesters understand why we want to move it to Chana. The area behind the port at Hua Khao Daeng has reached full capacity and can neither be expanded nor accommodate any more. It is also not possible to dredge the seabed to a depth of 9 metres, which means large vessels cannot berth. Operators have raised these issues with us and asked whether it would be possible to build a second port together with the development of the Chana industrial estate. The aim is to revitalise the economies of three southern provinces and Chana district in Songkhla, so that younger generations in the area would not have to leave to find work and could work close to home,” Phiphat said.
Regarding efforts on social media to mobilise protests against the government, Phiphat said he had seen no protesters when he arrived that morning, although they would be welcome if they came.
He added that those seeking to protest would have to explain why they were coming, since the Land Bridge project had now been cancelled and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) project suspended.
Phiphat said those who wanted to come and sit in the Bangkok sun were welcome to do so. He acknowledged that his words might be strong but said they were necessary, adding that if others used strong words, he would respond just as strongly. He said that was how it was and referred to it as “yin-yang”.
