Thakhek Dry Port Concession Agreement Signing Ceremony

The Government of Laos and Thakhek Dry Port Company Limited on Friday signed a 30-year concession agreement on the Thakhek Dry Port project.
The agreement was signed by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Ms Khamchanh Vongseneboun on behalf of the Government of Laos, and Chief Executive of Thakhek Dry Port Co., Ltd. on behalf of Thakhek Dry Port Co Ltd., Mr Phutphornxai Luanglath.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Governor of Khammuan province, Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, the

Ms Khamchanh Vongseneboun and Mr Phutphornxai Luanglath display the concession agreement on the Thakhek Dry Port project on Friday.

management of relevant departments, Lao Logistics State Enterprise, and participants from the public and private sectors.
The Thakhek Dry Port project, located next to the 3rd Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Khammuan province, is valued at US$15.7 million.
Thakhek Dry Port Co., Ltd. was established on June 10, 2021. The Lao government (through the Lao Logistics State Enterprise) holds a 30 percent share in the venture and the private sector (on behalf of the three companies by Greater Mekong Logistics Co., Ltd.) holds a 70 percent share.
Thakhek Dry Port Co Ltd aims to develop the Thakhek Dry Port as a gateway for international goods and enable Laos to become a regional and international logistics service centre through the Khammuan border crossing.
The development of the Thakhek Dry Port is part of the government’s strategic plan on “Freight Transport and Logistics Development in the Lao PDR”.
This identifies the importance of and the need to develop ports in Laos, and is also in line with the country’s policy to move from being “landlocked” to “land-linked” or “transit services” to enhance the transport and logistics potential of Laos.
The Thakhek Dry Port will serve as a hub for gathering and distributing modern and integrated logistics products and services, and will contribute to the reduction of illegal transshipment and logistics costs. This will enable Lao business ventures to compete within the global market, and fully meet the needs of customers.
Thakhek district in Khammuan province is suitable because of its geographic location and in terms of the volume of international traffic, which is increasing significantly.
Thakhek district is located along the strategic four-directions linked road, with easy access to highway No. 12 connecting Phnom Penh and Thailand to Jaloe in Vietnam, which is the shortest route from Laos to Vietnam and lies on highway No. 13, which is the main arterial road in Laos.

Participants gather at the signing ceremony for the Thakhek Dry Port project on Friday.

Thakhek district has the potential for service-transit and is close to neighbouring countries, making it possible to import goods through the service and accommodate goods from neighbouring provinces such as Borikhamxay and Savannakhet for exporting and importing goods from Thailand, and exporting them to Vietnam for onward shipment to China. This has the potential to turn the Thakhek Dry Port into a regional land transport hub.
“Dry Port” refers to a logistics site located inland that is a centre for loading and unloading goods and can receive, store, distribute, open and store goods in containers in line with the terms of international agreements. It is also an international border checkpoint for the transport of goods in-out and transiting the country.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update January 31, 2022)