"China-Laos Railway": Opportunities and Challenges of Thai Entrepreneurs in the Post-Covid-19 Era
The opening of the China-Laos Railway since December 2021 provides a route for transporting goods and people from Kunming, China's Yunnan Province, to Laos' capital Vientiane, taking no more than 15 hours. It is an opportunity and challenge for Thai entrepreneurs.
Associate Professor Dr. At Phisanwanich, Director of the Center for International Trade Studies and lecturer at the Faculty of Economics International Economics University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said at the seminar Next Step Thai Agriculture : How to take the next step in agricultural business? After covids into endemic disease, about the Isan Gateway "China-Laos Railway", the opportunities and challenges that farmers face after the Covid-19 era that this China-Laos railway Make Laos become the transport hub of ASEAN. and also allows Thailand to use this route to transport goods to China The things that Thailand must prepare are as follows:
1. Make Nong Khai Province as a transport connection point by constructing a railway line from Nong Khai - Thanaleng station between Thailand - Laos The distance is about 5 kilometers and the construction of the Nong Khai Railway - Vientiane South Station to transport goods, a distance of 4 kilometers.
2. Develop northeastern provinces such as Nong Khai and Udon Thani to be a modern business center with services that facilitate entrepreneurs. Businessmen in China and other countries can negotiate business Order products easily and quickly.
3. Thai entrepreneurs must develop products and products to be exported in accordance with global trends and regulations of each country, for example, China has a carbon dioxide emission plan. and focusing on driving the economy according to the concept of bio-economy circular economy and green economy (Bio-Circular-Green Economy), so it is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to produce products that conform to this concept.
This China-Laos train This is one of the routes under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), covering a distance of 1,020 kilometers, covering 598 kilometers in China and 422 kilometers in Laos, capable of carrying passengers at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour. and can run cargo at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour Therefore, it is another interesting channel to increase trade and investment opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs who wish to export goods to China.
Article by : Praweenamai Baikloi
