BANGKOK – The land bridge project is considered a key to restoring peace in Thailand‘s three southernmost border provinces, according to Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
United Arab Emirates-based Dubai World has offered grant assistance for a feasibility study regarding development of a logistics network and the land bridge project in Thailand.
He expressed confidence that the proposed land bridge project under which deep-sea ports as well as communication and transport networks would be built to link the Andaman seacoast and the Gulf of Thailand in order to help create jobs in southern Thailand.
In particular, the violence-plagued three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat would benefit directly from rising employment and economic development.
The sultan said he believed it would help reduce the continuing violence in the Muslim-majority South.
"In the past, our company had experiences in developing projects in many conflict-impacted areas. We found that local residents are not easily lured to violence if they have jobs and enjoy higher incomes.
"In our view, building economic stability is a key to creating political stability," he said.
The Dubai World executive stated the land bridge project would also help link the communication and transport networks between Western Asia and East Asia where key economies including China, Japan, and South Korea are located.
He said 90 per cent of all products placed for sale in the world now are now produced in China.
Should the project be successfully implemented in Thailand, it could serve as a convenient transport route for products to be shipped to key markets in West Asia, including India and Middle East countries.
At present, such products must be shipped through the Straits of Malacca, which is time consuming, he said.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the Transport Ministry‘s signing of a memorandum of understanding on allowing Dubai World to study a feasibility of building the land bridge project.
Deputy Government Spokesman Nattavuth Sai-kua said the company submitted a written intention with the ministry on November 15, 2007 to offer grant assistance for a study of a proper approach to developing ports in the Andaman seacoast and a bridge to link them with ports in the Gulf of Thailand or known as the land bridge project.
Under the plan, the company would invest in all aspects to study the potential of the project and the feasibility of investment.
On completion of the study, the government could use the findings to inform other potential construction players without having to consult with Dubai World.
Thailand could proceed with a plan to open bids on the project without any conditions set by the firm, he said.
Whether the company would decide to invest in the project depends on its study on details of investment budget, port management, location, and economic benefits it would get.
Sumber : http://enews.mcot.net (24 Mei 2008)
