Floods hit Klong Toey Port business

BANGKOK, December 13 (TNA) - Goods transport at Bangkok’s Klong Toey Port has been hard hit due to Thailand's flooding crisis over the past couple of months, which has forced importers and exporters to switch to using Laem Chabang Port in the eastern seaside Chon Buri Province. Chalermchai Meekun-Iam, Director-General of the Port Authority of Thailand, said Tuesday since the beginning of the government's 2012 fiscal year, starting from October 1, 2011, goods transport services at the Klong Toey Port have dropped by some 40 per cent due to the country's massive floods, a continued setback to the main Bangkok port's business, which expanded only 9 per cent in the 2011 fiscal year. As more importers and exporters have switched to using the Laem Chabang Port, Chalermchai acknowledged that the phase 3-expansion at the Laem Chabang Port is underway and if the four-year construction is complete with a total investment fund of some 30 billion baht, the eastern Thai deep sea port can cater marine transportation in a greater capacity over the next 7-8 years. Meanwhile, acting Thai Permanent Secretary for Transport Silpachai Charusathirarattana, said that his ministry plans to promote the marine transportation on a sustainable basis, paving the way for Thailand to become a regional gateway for marine transportation in the future. (TNA)