KHON KAEN - Construction has begun of an inland container depot (ICD) in Muang district to operate as a logistics centre for rail transport in the Northeast, and it will be finished in three years, according to the provincial chamber of commerce.
Chairman Khemchart Somjaiwong said work on the 2-billion-baht logistics centre at tambon Noen Thon had already started. It is a public-private partnership project and will be managed by Khon Kaen City Development in partnership with the Port Authority of Thailand and the State Railway of Thailand.
Ban Noen Phayom in tambon Noen Thon was selected because it was near a train station. In the future this logistics park would be the regional centre for agricultural products such as sugarcane, tapioca and rice, he said. It was scheduled for completion in three years.
Customs clearance would be done in there and the products then transported directly to Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri for export, Mr Khemchart said.
Farm goods processing factories would be built in the logistics park, to add value to fresh products and reduce costs. This would benefit farmers in the Northeast, who would then be able to compete with neighbouring countries or other international rivals.