December 03, 2008

Thailand to be developed as regional logistics hub

Exim News Service reported that Thailand aims at improving its logistics scenario by lowering its logistics cost per GDP and steering the country to become the logistics hub in Asean, Indochina and South China.

This was highlighted at the Thailand International Logistics Fair 2008 held here early last month. Organized by the Department of Export Promotion of Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, the event was one of the grandest, most comprehensive logistics expositions ever staged in Asean with 181 leading companies exhibiting their logistics capabilities and innovations in 324 booths.

Mr Bunyin Tangpakorn deputy minister of commerce said that “The Royal Thai government has denoted logistics development as a national agenda, especially in the area of logistics trade which is an area of interest in the eyes of foreign investors. Policies have also been issued to accommodate for projected trade and investment growth, to ensure that Thailand is a country with a logistics infrastructure of international standard, as well as to facilitate regulations to be easier for overall logistics operations.”

He said that “In 2005, Thailand’s logistics cost per GDP was approximately 19%. The National Logistics Development Plan aims to reduce this figure to 16% in 2011 as well as develop Thai logistics to be more reliable and efficient in satisfying customers’ logistics needs.”

Thailand’s main world class port facility Laem Chabang is among the 20 busiest container ports in the world. Much of the international shipping reaching Thailand goes through this port.