Srettha maps air hub goal as Songkran festival nears
Goal is to make nation a logistics hub
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has set an ambitious goal to make Thailand a regional aviation centre and one of the world’s five largest cargo distribution hubs.
The premier is due to explain his vision in a live broadcast on both the government’s NBT television channel and online and social media platforms at 9.30am today.
The planned broadcast and online address of the aviation hub project was announced via Mr Srettha’s X account yesterday.
Following the PM’s announcement, Kerati Kijmanawat, Airports of Thailand (AoT) president and director, offered a glimpse of the plan under the “Ignite Thailand, Aviation Hub” campaign.
The essential details will be divulged by the premier today, according to Mr Kerati, who said the AoT has already submitted the plan to materialise the hub vision to Mr Srettha.
To ensure the high quality and speed of airport services, the AoT has put in place a raft of measures, said Mr Kerati.
He was responding to Mr Srettha’s remark on the need to accelerate the speed of airport services in preparation for the Songkran festival next month. The premier made the remark during his recent tour of Suvarnabhumi airport.
Eight hundred more airport staff have been recruited to support security checks and assist passengers, said Mr Kerati. They are due to start on March 30 in rotating shifts.
The Immigration Bureau (IB) is also adding more officers to beat the long queues during rush hours at the country’s main air gateway.
The IB’s Division 2, located at Suvarnabhumi airport, recently hired 200 immigration officers who are due to start working today. Some 400 more will join the IB later, said Mr Kerati.
Also, the first 20 automatic passport-check channels, equipped with advanced technology, are due to be installed on June 15 at both departure and arrivals halls, he said, adding the other 60 channels will be installed by July 15.
The speed of pre-departure security checks could be improved if the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) approves the AoT’s request to cancel time-consuming requirements such as the mandated removal of passengers’ shoes, he said.
Samart Ratchapolsitte, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, urged the government to speed up its plan to expand Suvarnabhumi airport.
The government has pledged to attract the largest investment in 20 years to compensate for lost decades in the logistics sector, aiming to make Thailand a regional hub by 2030.
The investment comprises upgrading airports nationwide, positioning Suvarnabhumi airport as a top five global airport, continuing the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme, expediting the railway connecting three airports around the outskirts of Bangkok, and accelerating the high-speed train linking Bangkok to Nong Khai, connecting to Laos and China, said Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister.
“The prime minister has a policy to expedite investment in all types of infrastructure to propel Thailand to be a regional logistics hub. This includes both existing and new projects,” said Mr Prommin.
“During his visit to France in the middle of March, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will present this plan to investors, showcasing opportunities and directions for investment in Thailand. The goal is to promote the idea that Thailand is set to undergo the biggest infrastructure investment in 20 years.”
He said as part of efforts to promote infrastructure investment, today Mr Srettha will announce a development plan to make Thailand a regional aviation hub. This plan expands on details previously mentioned during the “Ignite Thailand” event last week, said Mr Prommin.
“To position Thailand as an aviation hub, the government is set to utilise the capabilities and assets of Thais to develop existing airports and invest in the expansion of new airports, such as Lanna airport and Andaman airport,” he said.
Apart from airport upgrades, the government is pushing for other infrastructure projects and accelerating delayed projects, such as the Thailand-China high-speed railway, which the administration affirms will be completed during its tenure, said Mr Prommin.
Other projects comprise the highspeed train connecting three airports and the U-tapao airport expansion project.
“The government is moving forward with these projects, as new investors are interested in investing in the EEC. This includes expanding road infrastructure and rail systems to support increased investment and tourism in the future,” he said.
“Funding sources to finance the investments will stem from the government’s fiscal budgets and publicprivate partnerships.”
Regarding progress in attracting investment for the Land Bridge project, Mr Prommin said there was significant interest from foreign investors, including those from Germany and the US.
He recently said China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed great interest in the project during his visit to Thailand and requested additional information about it.
“This government is compensating for lost decades. In the short term, we need income from tourism, which represents 17-20% of the country’s GDP. Investments are considered long-term returns the country will benefit from,” said Mr Prommin.
“Thailand has the potential to become a transport and logistics hub. What the government is doing will stimulate the biggest investment in 20 years by inviting people to invest as much as possible, enabling us to compete with rival countries. With the domestic political climate recovering, we need to adapt for economic recovery by entering markets and creating new opportunities for Thailand.”