Thailand to develop commercial marine transportation system

BANGKOK, February 18 (TNA) - Thailand is developing the marine transportation system, paving the way for the country to become a regional marine transportation hub in the future. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees economic affairs, told a meeting of a commercial navigation committee on February 17 that Thailand has to spend more than a trillion baht on marine transportation annually because the number of Thai marine fleets is limited. Somkid, thus, assigned the committee to further develop Laem Chabang Deep Seaport in the Thai East, shipyards and the marine transportation system in the country to increase their capacities. Somkid also assigned the Ministry of Transport to revive the Office of the Maritime Promotion Commission, tasked with developing Thailand to become a regional hub for marine transportation, pointing that the Kingdom situates strategically and suitable for both land and sea transportation. Participants in Wednesday's meeting agreed to also assign the Ministry of Transport to consider a draft law on developing Thai marine fleets and the Ministry of Finance to explore ways to enlarge Thai shipping fleets, with the draft law expected to be forwarded to the Cabinet for further consideration soon. Meanwhile, Admiral Yutthana Fukpol-ngarm, Chairman of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)’s commercial marine promotion committee, acknowledged that Thailand has to spend as high as 1.3 trillion baht annually because 90 per cent of the country’s inbound and outbound transport activities are carried out via ships. (TNA)