Middle East Conflict Prompts Thailand to Accelerate Land Bridge Project, Connecting Indian Ocean and Pacific
The Middle East conflict has spurred Thailand to expedite its 'land bridge' project, creating a new route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans to bypass the Strait of Malacca. This aims to enhance logistics safety and autonomy, with an estimated cost of 1 trillion Thai Baht for new ports and a 90km land transport link, reducing transit time by four days and costs by 15%.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 16:05
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 16:31 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 01:33 (9h 2m after Collected)
Middle East-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency (Bangkok, April 27) - The closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlights the strategic value of critical shipping lanes. The Thai government announced that it will build a land bridge in southern Thailand, which, once completed, will connect the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean shipping routes, bypassing the Strait of Malacca. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that Thailand will enhance national logistics security and autonomy through this land bridge project.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn recently stated that he plans to submit a large-scale "land bridge" project to the cabinet in June, with an estimated cost of approximately 1 trillion Thai Baht. The land bridge will connect the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand ports, establishing a transshipment route between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, strengthening Thailand's position in global logistics.
Thai PBS reported on April 25 that Phiphat pointed out that the crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz underscores the strategic value of critical shipping lanes, thus strongly promoting Thailand's large-scale "land bridge" project.
He emphasized that the government will not provide funding for this project but will grant land concessions to investors. The report indicated that the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has completed a feasibility study, and Phiphat will conduct a site visit in May. Construction is expected to commence later this year, pending cabinet approval.
Bangkok Post reported yesterday that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated on April 25 that in view of the increasingly fierce competition in global shipping routes and geopolitical risks faced by critical straits, this project must be seriously considered.
He said: "If Thailand can provide a reliable alternative that can both generate revenue and promote economic prosperity, we must push ahead with the project."
Thai PBS pointed out that according to the plan, the project will build a deep-sea port in Chumphon province and Ranong province in southern Thailand, respectively, as well as a 90-kilometer railway and highway connecting the two ports. This can shorten the original transportation time by 4 days and reduce costs by 15%. In fact, the "land bridge" project has been proposed multiple times in the past. During the administration of former Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a land bridge project across the Kra Isthmus between Chumphon and Ranong provinces was proposed, which would connect sea and land transportation and was estimated to reduce freight time by 4 days. However, experts at the time believed that unless the sea and land connections were smooth, the convenience of the land bridge project would not be comparable to that of the Strait of Malacca. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150427. Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom. Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Central News Agency (Bangkok, April 27) - The closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlights the strategic value of critical shipping lanes. The Thai government announced that it will build a land bridge in southern Thailand, which, once completed, will connect the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean shipping routes, bypassing the Strait of Malacca. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that Thailand will enhance national logistics security and autonomy through this land bridge project.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn recently stated that he plans to submit a large-scale "land bridge" project to the cabinet in June, with an estimated cost of approximately 1 trillion Thai Baht. The land bridge will connect the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand ports, establishing a transshipment route between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, strengthening Thailand's position in global logistics.
Thai PBS reported on April 25 that Phiphat pointed out that the crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz underscores the strategic value of critical shipping lanes, thus strongly promoting Thailand's large-scale "land bridge" project.
He emphasized that the government will not provide funding for this project but will grant land concessions to investors. The report indicated that the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has completed a feasibility study, and Phiphat will conduct a site visit in May. Construction is expected to commence later this year, pending cabinet approval.
Bangkok Post reported yesterday that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated on April 25 that in view of the increasingly fierce competition in global shipping routes and geopolitical risks faced by critical straits, this project must be seriously considered.
He said: "If Thailand can provide a reliable alternative that can both generate revenue and promote economic prosperity, we must push ahead with the project."
Thai PBS pointed out that according to the plan, the project will build a deep-sea port in Chumphon province and Ranong province in southern Thailand, respectively, as well as a 90-kilometer railway and highway connecting the two ports. This can shorten the original transportation time by 4 days and reduce costs by 15%. In fact, the "land bridge" project has been proposed multiple times in the past. During the administration of former Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a land bridge project across the Kra Isthmus between Chumphon and Ranong provinces was proposed, which would connect sea and land transportation and was estimated to reduce freight time by 4 days. However, experts at the time believed that unless the sea and land connections were smooth, the convenience of the land bridge project would not be comparable to that of the Strait of Malacca. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150427. Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom. Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.