Transport
From The Report: Thailand 2017
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Thailand’s rise to the forefront of economic development in South-east Asia over the past three decades was first fuelled by its agricultural prowess, which was then followed by its transition into a regional manufacturing powerhouse, before the more recent push to evolve into a knowledge- and service-based economy. Although numerous factors have aided the country’s achievements across disparate sectors, a common thread that runs through each of these industries has greatly improved their odds of success both internally and internationally: an increasingly modern, capable transportation network. This chapter contains interviews with Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport; Sombat Kitjalaksana, Managing Director, Bangkok Expressway and Metro; and Usanee Sangsingkeo, Acting President, Thai Airways International.
Articles from this Chapter
Path to prosperity: Infrastructure improvements are at the heart of plans to connect Thailand to the rest of Asia
Path to prosperity: Infrastructure improvements are at the heart of plans to connect Thailand to the rest of AsiaOBGplus
Thailand’s rise to the forefront of economic development in South-east Asia over the past three decades was first fuelled by its agricultural prowess, which was then followed by its transition into a regional manufacturing powerhouse, before the more recent push to evolve into a knowledge-and service-based economy. Although numerous factors have aided the country’s achievements across disparate sectors, a common thread that runs through each of these industries has greatly improved their…
Mutual benefits: Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport, on developing infrastructure through international cooperationOBGplus
Interview: Arkhom Termpittayapaisith What major ground transport upgrades are current priorities for government spending? ARKHOM TERMPITTAYAPAISITH: Thailand has lagged behind in terms of planned infrastructure upgrades in air, sea and ground transport over the past 10-20 years, so investment in all modes of transport is critical. That being said, around 85% of the nation depends on ground transport as the primary mode by which to move both people and goods. Therefore, over the past two years the…
Mutual benefits: Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport, on developing infrastructure through international cooperationOBGplus
Interview: Arkhom Termpittayapaisith What major ground transport upgrades are current priorities for government spending? ARKHOM TERMPITTAYAPAISITH: Thailand has lagged behind in terms of planned infrastructure upgrades in air, sea and ground transport over the past 10-20 years, so investment in all modes of transport is critical. That being said, around 85% of the nation depends on ground transport as the primary mode by which to move both people and goods. Therefore, over the past two years the…
Making a connection: Collaborative efforts are needed to improve Bangkok’s transport infrastructureOBGplus
Accounting for roughly one-quarter of Thailand’s 68m inhabitants and serving as the economic, social and political heart of the country, maintaining the efficient flow of people and goods in, out and around Bangkok is crucial to keeping the country moving. The Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) dominates the country both financially and demographically, with its six districts encompassing 7785 sq km, home to a population of approximately 17.5m and accounting for 68% of national GDP. Yet…
Making a connection: Collaborative efforts are needed to improve Bangkok’s transport infrastructureOBGplus
Accounting for roughly one-quarter of Thailand’s 68m inhabitants and serving as the economic, social and political heart of the country, maintaining the efficient flow of people and goods in, out and around Bangkok is crucial to keeping the country moving. The Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) dominates the country both financially and demographically, with its six districts encompassing 7785 sq km, home to a population of approximately 17.5m and accounting for 68% of national GDP. Yet…
Logical investments: Boosting transport and logistical links internally and abroadOBGplus
In spite of the recent slowdown of economic growth in South-east Asia that followed more than a decade of rapid expansion, the region continues to exhibit vast, untapped growth potential – both in terms of demand, with an increasingly affluent consumer base, and in terms of supply, with an increasingly diverse array of goods and services. Situated at a key crossroads, Thailand is well placed to take advantage of this potentially lucrative market by fashioning itself into a sophisticated…
Logical investments: Boosting transport and logistical links internally and abroadOBGplus
In spite of the recent slowdown of economic growth in South-east Asia that followed more than a decade of rapid expansion, the region continues to exhibit vast, untapped growth potential – both in terms of demand, with an increasingly affluent consumer base, and in terms of supply, with an increasingly diverse array of goods and services. Situated at a key crossroads, Thailand is well placed to take advantage of this potentially lucrative market by fashioning itself into a sophisticated…
Ship shape: The Laem Chabang expansion is part of plans to transform the port into a regional hubOBGplus
First identified as a favourable alternative to the crowded Bangkok seaport as early as the 1960s, Laem Chabang Port has expanded from being Thailand’s first deepwater port served by a single terminal into one of the busiest ports in the region. Since the initial B1 and B2 terminals began operations in the early 1990s, Laem Chabang has grown alongside the country’s mounting industrial prowess, and continues to serve as the primary terminal for the import of industrial inputs and other…
Taking on traffic: Sombat Kitjalaksana, Managing Director, Bangkok Expressway and Metro, on infrastructure development and reducing congestionOBGplus
Interview: Sombat Kitjalaksana To what extent will government infrastructure projects continue to drive Thailand’s GDP growth in the short to long term? SOMBAT KITJALAKSANA: I believe that infrastructure development in Thailand is perhaps the most important economic success factor at present, and the government has selected the right direction in emphasising and prioritising investment in infrastructure moving forward. While Thailand has undergone great levels of development – especially over…
Tying it all together: Usanee Sangsingkeo, Acting President, Thai Airways International (THAI), on being South-east Asia’s travel centreOBGplus
Interview: Usanee Sangsingkeo What competitive advantages does Thailand hold with regard to its goal of becoming a regional hub for global aviation and aerospace? USANEE SANGSINGKEO: Thailand is centrally located in South-east Asia, and boasts an efficient logistics network across land, sea and air transport, which has led to a well-developed regional connectivity. In 2016, some 98 airlines operated to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport, with a capacity of 73m seats. Thailand’s tourism industry contributed…
