5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to be built in Bueng Kan

[rooster59]

5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to be built in Bueng Kan

Na-ark Rojanasuvan

 

 

BUENG KAN, 16 November 2018, (NNT) - Bueng Kan Chamber of Commerce has proposed that Bueng Kan be transformed into a logistic hub after the 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is to be built in Beung Kan province in the beginning of next year. 

Bueng Kan Chamber of Commerce President Jate Ketjamnong said the private sector in Bueng Kan is set to propose to the Cabinet the development plan to turn the province into a logistic hub during the mobile cabinet and the joint Thai-Laotian cabinet meetings early in December. 

The plan includes the construction of an airport and a railway linking Udon Thani and Beung Kan. Once the 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is fully functional, it will bring so much economic value to the province. 

According to Mr. Jate, the proposal to build an airport was dismissed by the Cabinet due to security reasons the last time it was submitted for consideration. He added a better and improved plan will be submitted again to the Cabinet, citing the need for Bueng Kan to have its own airport for economic purposes. 

A 20-year strategy will also be proposed for approval to ensure development projects in Bueng Kan are carried out continuously from one governor to another.

 

 

-- nnt 2018-11-18

[Sydebolle]

Living in the area I can confirm that there is presently no real need for an airport, apart from being convenient. The closest airports would be Sakon Nakhon (185kms) or Udon Thani (200kms). A bridge would facilitate matters to/from Pakxan which, in years to come, might be the overland gateway to Northeastern Laos and Northern Vietnam. But god only knows if that is a worthwile investment; for the time being I either use the Nongkhai/Thanaleng bridge or use the ferry between Buengkan and Pakxan. 

[DrTuner]

As long as a box of Beer Lao is 1380baht (Makro yesterday) don't bother. Asean...pfft.

[Sydebolle]

4 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

As long as a box of Beer Lao is 1380baht (Makro yesterday) don't bother. Asean...pfft.

While in Laos it is LAK 195K or THB 750, anywhere in the country, i.e. three days overland transport to Phongsaly included. Carlsberg (brewed in Vietnam) is less than THB 1K, go figure! 

 

[sjaak327]

They said the same thing when FSB3 between Nakhom Phanom and Tha Kaek opened. Yet after being in service for 7 years, I have yet to see the big economic impact. What changed is that I cannot use the ferry anymore (only Thai or Lao citizens can use it), and therefore have to use the bridge, which is a good 8 KM west of KOP and by the same token 8 KM away from Tha Kaek. There is a clear reason why precious few Lao or Thai use the bridge, all you see on the bus are the Vietnamese. 

 

Pakxan is a small town, not even half the size of Tha Kaek, so I fail to see how it would ever become a gateway of anything.