Chiangsaen:2nd Port on Mekong

[GWR]

The Second Port in Chiang Saen District of Chiang Rai (24/10/2007)

A new port will be constructed in Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai province in the North. The Cabinet, during its meeting on October 16, approved the construction project, which will contribute greatly to Thailand’s logistics development.

The project, which will be the second port in Chiang Saen, involves a budget of 1.5 billion baht and construction work will begin in 2009. The Ministry of Transport reported that the first Chiang Saen port had become too small to accommodate the rapid growth of trade and transportation between Thailand and China. The expansion of the first port is not allowed, since it is located in a designated historical site and deserves being preserved as part of the national heritage. Moreover, the Treasury Department is developing this district to be registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site. This historical site will also be promoted as a major tourist destination in northern Thailand.

The Marine Department under the Ministry of Transport has conducted a survey of the site and designed the second Chiang Saen port. The objective is to develop the transport network for the country’s economic activities. This development project will promote Thailand as the center for trade, investment, and transport in the upper Mekong subregion, linking with southern China.

The Ministry of Transport told the Cabinet that the second Chiang Saen port project should receive support in accordance with the country’s financial and economic status. The project is also in line with the Government’s policy, the current 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan, and Thailand’s logistics development strategy, 2007 to 2011. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board is taking urgent steps to make Thailand a logistics center in this region. The steps are in line with the country’s effort to reduce energy use. Water transport can save energy and money to a great extent.

The construction of the second Chiang Saen port will be done in conjunction with another bridge across the Mekong River, which is being planned in Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai. The bridge will facilitate trade and transport between China, Laos, and Thailand. (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2185)
The new port of Chiang Saen will also help develop Chiang Rai into a major trade gateway between Thailand and southern China. The gateway will serve as a factor to bring about development on a continual basis. With railway development to this gateway and port development in the Andaman Sea, Thailand will be able to provide a multimodal transport corridor and open up a new trade lane, linking with southern China, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The second port in Chiang Saen is cited as important for Thailand’s future growth.


http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_inside.php?id=2488

[GWR]

New private port for Golden Triangle
Traders call for trade zone in Chiang Rai

THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA

Chiang Rai _ A business consortium plans to open a private commercial port on the banks of the Mekong river near the Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district by the end of next month.

Lan Chang commercial port is built on 83 rai of land owned by MP World Trading, run by veteran politician Vatana Asavahame. The site is the former location of Ha Chiang Plaza shopping mall run by the same company.

The consortium has taken out a three-year lease and plans to buy the land in that period.

It made an initial investment of about 30 million baht for the first three years and after that the investment money in the next phases of development is expected to rise by as much as 600 million baht.

The consortium consists of Siam South China Logistics Co, which holds a 55% stake in the port, Kamol Insurance Co with a holding of 15%, Global Port Management Co with 15% and Suwannachinda Partnership Ltd with 15%.

The port project is in response to China's move to launch the Kunming and Jinghong industrial estates in southern China.

In addition, China also plans to build an agro-industrial estate on the Lao side of the Mekong river opposite Chiang Saen district.

The 10-billion-baht agri-industrial estate is a joint venture between Chinese investors and the Lao government.

It will cover about 20,000 rai with a five-star hotel, a casino, a hospital and a goods distribution centre planned. The estate is expected to open for business by next year.

Prathan Inseeyong, managing director of the Lan Chang port, said the port can serve six vessels of less than 500 tonnes gross.

A large crane for lifting goods of 150 tonnes has now been installed, while construction of a warehouse and parking areas for trucks is now underway.

The old Ha Chiang shopping mall will be refurbished and turned into an office building and an exhibition hall for Otop products.

Mr Prathan called on the government to develop and promote a special border economic zone in Chiang Rai to ensure continued economic growth in the province. He said many Chiang Rai governors were officials close to retirement. They would be in office for too short a time to maintain economic development in the province.

He was confident that China would choose to transport agricultural goods via Chiang Saen district.

Taking agricultural products by ship was more cost-effective than by road, given rising fuel costs, Mr Prathan said.

One ship can carry enough cargo to fill 10 trucks.

In addition, Thailand needs to prepare for the expansion of trade in the region when the free trade agreement between Thailand, China and Asean is concluded by 2010.

Pattana Sitthisombat, chairman of the Chiang Rai chamber of commerce, welcomed the first private-run commercial port in Chiang Saen.

Now there are only 12 warehouses permitted on a temporary basis on the banks of the Mekong river.

He urged Thai entrepreneurs to do more to explore investment possibilities under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation deal.

Trade in Chiang Saen is worth about eight billion baht a year, while annual trade in Mae Sai and Chiang Khong districts is put at three billion baht each, he said.

Kesuda Sangkhakorn, who runs a major import-export company in Chiang Saen, said the new port will be an alternative to Chiang Saen port, making it easier to move shipments in the dry season when the Mekong is shallow.

Cargo vessels are often stranded on sand bars near the Golden Triangle before they manage to reach the port at Chiang Saen.


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