Anutin has signed to establish a committee to study the Land Bridge project, appointing Ekniti as chairman and Pakorn as vice chairman. The NESDC will serve as secretary, working alongside the private sector to formulate comprehensive guidelines for studying the impacts and to listen to all parties involved.
On 5 May 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul signed the Prime Minister's Office Order No. 133/2569 appointing a committee to study the approach to advancing the infrastructure development project to connect transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge project).
The key point is to ensure that advancing the infrastructure development project connecting transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge project) proceeds with thoroughness and concrete results, taking into account all possible impacts in every dimension and aligning with the current volatile global geopolitical situation, which creates uncertainty for maritime transport systems.
Under the authority of Section 11 (6) of the State Administration Act B.E. 2534 (1991), the committee to study the approach for driving the infrastructure development project connecting transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge project) is hereby appointed with the following composition, duties, and powers.
1. The composition includes Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as chairman; and Mr. Pakorn Nilpraphan, Deputy Prime Minister, as vice chairman.
The committee members include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Transport, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Minister of Energy, Minister of Industry, the assigned Deputy Minister of Interior, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Secretary-General of the Council of State, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Maritime Interest Protection Center, and Secretary-General of the National Security Council.
Additionally, the committee includes the Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the Gulf of Thailand southern provincial chambers of commerce, representatives from the Andaman Sea southern provincial chambers of commerce, up to three representatives from local communities within the project area, and experts in transportation and logistics.
The Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) serves as a committee member and secretary. The Director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning is a committee member and assistant secretary. An assigned Deputy Secretary-General of NESDC is also a committee member and assistant secretary.
The committee's duties are specified in five main tasks.
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2. The powers and duties consist of:
1) Assessing the feasibility of development and impacts in various dimensions to inform the approach for driving the infrastructure development project connecting transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge project) in alignment with the current global geopolitical situation, for submission to the Prime Minister and Cabinet for consideration.
2) Listening to and collecting opinions from all sectors to inform the approach for driving the infrastructure development project connecting transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (the Land Bridge project).
3) Appointing subcommittees, working groups, or experts with specialized knowledge to support the committee's operations as necessary.
4) Inviting representatives from government agencies, state organizations, experts, or related persons to participate in meetings to provide explanations or useful information for the committee's work.
5) Performing other duties assigned by the Prime Minister or Cabinet. Expenses for meetings or other necessary administrative costs related to the committee, subcommittees, or working groups appointed by this order shall be disbursed in accordance with the Royal Decree on Committee Meeting Allowances B.E. 2547 (2004) and its amendments or relevant government regulations, as applicable, and paid from the NESDC budget.