The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted $2 million in aid to restore Songkhla, as Thailand and Malaysia open a new road linking the Sadao checkpoint with Bukit Kayu Hitam. Anutin is confident this infrastructure upgrade will attract investment opportunities and economic growth.
At 10:35 a.m. on 10 July 2026, at the reception building of the new Sadao Customs Checkpoint in Songkhla Province, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul witnessed the official handover ceremony of a $2 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support relief and restoration efforts following the severe flooding in Songkhla Province. The Ministry of Finance signed the grant agreement with ADB after the Cabinet approved accepting this aid on behalf of the Thai government to rehabilitate areas affected by the 2025 floods in Songkhla.
At 10:45 a.m., Anutin walked to the new Sadao checkpoint to join Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in presiding over the official opening ceremony of the road connecting the new Sadao Customs Checkpoint with the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint. This marks a significant step in the cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia to upgrade border infrastructure, facilitating convenience for citizens and businesses from both countries.
During the opening ceremony, both prime ministers walked through the customs gates on each side and met at the midpoint to shake hands, symbolizing the strong friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia. The Malaysian Prime Minister then invited Anutin to join the Malaysian side for the plaque unveiling and a hosted lunch featuring traditional dishes such as basmati rice, traditional banana shoot beef curry, baked chicken with sambal peach sauce, stir-fried squid with chili, red snapper with sweet and sour sauce, local traditional vegetable salad, and durian cendol for dessert, representing Malaysian-style sweets.
Anutin expressed gratitude to the Malaysian Prime Minister for co-chairing the ceremony and praised the close collaboration driving development across all sectors, including the commitment to peace and economic progress in the Thai southern border provinces and northern Malaysia, aiming to create new economic opportunities for the region. He emphasized that the new Sadao checkpoint is not merely infrastructure but an economic gateway that will connect people, trade, and investment between the two countries more closely.
In formal discussions with the Malaysian Prime Minister, both parties agreed to expedite development of border connectivity across Songkhla-Kedah, Satun-Perlis, and Narathiwat-Kelantan, alongside promoting border economic zones and facilitating customs and immigration procedures to enhance economic opportunities for citizens of both countries. This infrastructure and border linkage investment will attract new investment, generate employment, increase local entrepreneurs’ income, improve border communities’ quality of life, and strengthen both nations as long-term regional trade and logistics hubs.
Additional reporting noted that the opening event included Mrs. Thananon Charnvirakul, wife of Prime Minister Anutin, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkaew, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Defence General Adul Bunthama-jen, and Prime Minister’s Advisory Chairman Wan Muhammad Noor Matha among the delegation.
