Bangkok Post – DP World takes care of local projects

PM courts Dubai-based logistics firm as potential investor in land bridge and other ventures

Dubai-based global supply chain and logistics company DP World has expressed interest in exploring investments in domestic projects, including the 1-trillion baht land bridge megaproject, Prime Minister Shretha Thavisin said.

Mr Sretha met Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayam, Group Chairman and CEO of DB World, at Government House on Wednesday to discuss investment opportunities.

The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s vision of making the Kingdom a regional transport hub.

“We discussed the direction of investments in Thailand’s overall economy and various projects to promote the growth of the economy, leveraging its geographic location connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean to transform our country into a regional transportation hub. As a gateway for regional and global trade and transport, Mr Shretha said.

He emphasized the government’s desire for global investors to participate in these initiatives, positioning Thailand as a fully integrated economic hub in the region.

Mr Shretha highlighted Thailand’s positive economic trajectory and attractiveness to foreign investors.

Transport Minister Surya Jungrung Gringit said he was happy to meet the executives of DB World again. They met in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In addition to setting up its Southeast Asia office in Bangkok, DP World operates container terminals at Laem Chabang Port in Son Puri, the country’s busiest international port.

„DP World continues to look for opportunities to invest in countries with high economic growth potential, but where friction and bottlenecks in the supply chain have created challenges,” said Mr Bin Sulayem.

„With our expertise, from ports and terminals, economic zones to transportation, logistics and technology, we are well positioned to help streamline the flow of trade.”

Founded in 2005, DP World handles 70 million container units, brought by around 70,000 ships per year, accounting for 10% of global container traffic. It operates 82 ports in 40 countries and employs 111,000 workers in more than 75 countries. In the Asia Pacific region, it employs more than 7,000 people and operates ports and terminals in 19 locations.

Mr Surya had earlier said DB World had expressed interest in the land bridge project and Mr Bin Sulayem would discuss a possible joint investment with Mr Shretha on Wednesday.

The project aims to build a logistics network connecting Sumbon province on the Gulf of Thailand to Ranong on the Andaman coast.

Mr Surya said the meeting between DP World executives and the Prime Minister underscored the project’s appeal to investors, adding that he hoped it would materialize during the government’s current tenure.