(Bangkok, 4th) Thailand is assisting Laos in planning Route 12 Avenue, which, once completed, will connect Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, and through Vietnam's highway network, reach China, becoming another important trade route among the four countries.
The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand's Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) Chairman, Belahem, introduced that Route 12 Avenue is 147 kilometers long, starting from Thakhek town in Khammouane province, Laos, connecting the towns of Yommalath and Boualapha, and ending at the Na Phao checkpoint in Laos.
Thakhek town is about 17 kilometers from the Nakhon Phanom checkpoint in Thailand, and the Na Phao checkpoint connects to the Cha Lo border gate in Quang Binh province, Vietnam. In other words, once completed, Route 12 Avenue will act like a land bridge, connecting eastern Thailand and central-western Vietnam.
Belahem stated that Route 12 Avenue will promote Thai-Vietnamese trade development, while also opening a new route connecting Thailand and China. The new avenue is expected to reduce the travel time from Nakhon Phanom checkpoint in Thailand to Cha Lo border gate in Vietnam from 10 hours to four hours, while the drive from Cha Lo checkpoint to Nanning in Guangxi province takes about 12 hours.
Route 12 Avenue is expected to bring significant economic benefits. Belahem said it is anticipated that in its first year of operation, the avenue will bring in 1.51 billion Baht (approximately 197.58 million Ringgit) for Thailand, and from the second to the fifth year, it will bring in 2.84 billion Baht annually.
Construction of Route 12 Avenue will commence after the rainy season, with an estimated construction period of 30 months. Belahem stated that NEDA will provide the Laotian government with a low-interest loan of 1.74 billion Baht.
During the construction process, the highway will be upgraded to Asian highway standards, and improvements will be made to checkpoint facilities, office buildings, goods transfer stations, yards, public facilities, and border convenience facilities.
The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand's Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) Chairman, Belahem, introduced that Route 12 Avenue is 147 kilometers long, starting from Thakhek town in Khammouane province, Laos, connecting the towns of Yommalath and Boualapha, and ending at the Na Phao checkpoint in Laos.
Thakhek town is about 17 kilometers from the Nakhon Phanom checkpoint in Thailand, and the Na Phao checkpoint connects to the Cha Lo border gate in Quang Binh province, Vietnam. In other words, once completed, Route 12 Avenue will act like a land bridge, connecting eastern Thailand and central-western Vietnam.
Belahem stated that Route 12 Avenue will promote Thai-Vietnamese trade development, while also opening a new route connecting Thailand and China. The new avenue is expected to reduce the travel time from Nakhon Phanom checkpoint in Thailand to Cha Lo border gate in Vietnam from 10 hours to four hours, while the drive from Cha Lo checkpoint to Nanning in Guangxi province takes about 12 hours.
Route 12 Avenue is expected to bring significant economic benefits. Belahem said it is anticipated that in its first year of operation, the avenue will bring in 1.51 billion Baht (approximately 197.58 million Ringgit) for Thailand, and from the second to the fifth year, it will bring in 2.84 billion Baht annually.
Construction of Route 12 Avenue will commence after the rainy season, with an estimated construction period of 30 months. Belahem stated that NEDA will provide the Laotian government with a low-interest loan of 1.74 billion Baht.
During the construction process, the highway will be upgraded to Asian highway standards, and improvements will be made to checkpoint facilities, office buildings, goods transfer stations, yards, public facilities, and border convenience facilities.