Thailand has been successful in delivering the first shipment of 1,000 tons of Thai rice to Chongqing municipality in China through the China-Laos Railway.
Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Alongkorn Polabutr said that the historic exports of Thai rice by using this railway marked a new chapter of the regional rail transport system that would expand trade opportunities for farmers and traders and generate income for them and the country as a whole.
He thanked China and Laos for their good cooperation in the rice shipment carried by 20 carriages, despite difficulties caused by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thailand is coordinating with rail service providers in Laos and China for the use of the China-Laos Railway to export other Thai agricultural goods, such as rubber, fruit, orchids, cassava, palm oil, fishery and livestock products, as well as various processed products.
The China-Laos rail line was officially opened on 3 December 2021. Thailand had prepared its rail connection with the China-Laos Railway, in accordance with the “Isan Gateway” strategy, linking Thailand with the world.
Through the Isan Gateway, Thailand plans to export to other target markets in Central Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Europe.
Mr. Alongkorn explained that Chongqing is currently a transportation hub, located on the New Silk Road, or China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and near the Yangtze River. China has a policy to link Chongqing with ASEAN. He said that Thai fruit exports to Chongqing through the rail line would take only 1-2 days, thus retaining their freshness. He believed that Thailand would be able to expand its fruit markets in China.
Source: The Government Public Relations Department
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