Former DPM praises Thanaleng Dry Port, Vientiane Logistics Park

Then Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and now Vice President Dr Bounthong Chitmany highly valued the Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP) and Vientiane Logistics Park (VLP) during his tour of the mega projects in Vientiane on March 20.

Dr Bounthong Chitmany (centre) and his delegates tour the projects’ construction sites.

Dr Bounthong, who was elected as Vice President of Laos on March 22, 2021 by the inaugural session of the National Assembly (NA)’s 9th legislature, said that when the project become operational it will attract more local and foreign investment and make a major contribution to national development.
The Vice President, who is also a politburo member, praised the executive board of the Vientiane Logistics Park Company Limited (VLP Co., Ltd.) – the project developer for pursuing and realising the projects.
He made the comments after being briefed on the progress of the projects, which are under construction in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane.
The former DPM and his delegation were welcomed by the President of VLP Co., Ltd., Mr Chanthone Sitthixay.
Welcoming the delegation were also former Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and now PTL Holding Company Limited’s President of the Executive Board of Strategy and Planning, Mr Alounkeo Kittikhoun, former Deputy Minister of Finance and now Vientiane Logistics Park Company Limited’s Senior Advisor, Mr Sila Viengkeo, other executives and staffs of the VLP Co., Ltd.
TDP Managing Director Mr Sakhone Philangam and VLP Vice President, Mr Tee Chee Seng, highlighted the business potential and opportunities of the two projects.
Located near the 1st Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge crossing border – the international checkpoint linking the Vientiane capital of Laos with Nong Khai province of Thailand which will also connect to the Laos-China railway, the projects will help to build the Lao government’s ambition to turn the country into a multimodal transport connector within the Greater Mekong Sub region and beyond.
The Thanaleng Dry Port is expected to reduce cross border transport costs, especially at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge border crossing by 40 percent from current prices by 2025.
The developers underlined the need for the government to extend support and assistance regarding procedures in relation to the direct transfer of goods and indirect transfer (via a container yard).
Dr Bounthong, who was in charge of the Laos-China railway project, acknowledged that the government needed to extend support for VLP Co., Ltd.’s operations by studying and defining mechanisms, policies and regulations to support the operations and make them competitive in order to maximise national and business interests.
Dr Bounthong and his delegation were told that the projects are part of the Lao Logistics Link “LLL” project.
The “LLL” project involves several mega projects, which will help to transform Laos from a land-locked to a land-linked country within the GMS and accelerate international integration.
The project includes the planned development of the Vung Ang Port in Vietnam’s central Ha Tinh province, which the Lao and Vietnamese governments have agreed to jointly develop.
It also involves the railway’s  construction plan going throughVung Ang-Thakhek-Vientiane. The Coal Fired Power Plant in Khammuan and a special economic zone in Khammuan are also part of the “LLL” project.
It is estimated that the “LLL” project will generate more import-export trade value to Lao PDR  which will increase and equivalent of 20 percent to its annual gross domestic product (GDP).
The “LLL” project will not only help to transform Laos from a land-locked to a land-linked country but will also create a more sustainable logistics system for the region by providing a shorter route and a lower cost to the seaport. This will boost GDP growth, create more jobs for local people, and turn Laos into an important logistics connecting hub in the GMS and Asia. The project will bolster agricultural and industrial development in Laos and enhance cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, and between Laos and Asean.
After the briefing, Dr Bounthong and his entourage toured the construction sites of the TDP and VLP projects.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update March 25, 2021)