Given Sri Lanka’s recent interest in Thailand for trade and commerce, officials from the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) made a timely visit to the Ports Authority of Thailand (PAT) and Ranong Port. The visit was to rekindle the initial connection made between Ranong Port and Hambantota International Port (HIP) almost five years ago when an agreement was signed between PAT and HIPG.
“The initiative went into hibernation with the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. But now, the time is right to reconnect with Thailand, particularly with the Ranong Port, because international businesses are seeking more and more opportunities with the Sri Lankan economy. As ports, one of the most important aspects is our location, in terms of offering the best connectivity to businesses on key maritime routes, and secondly, providing efficient services and facilities in order to ensure easy cargo movement, transshipment and transportation. Connecting with the Ranong Port which operates under PAT is an obvious choice for Hambantota International Port in making strides to the BIMSTEC region,” says Johnson Liu, CEO of HIPG.
Lance Zuo, General Manager – Commercial and Marketing of HIPG says, “BIMSTEC is an important instrument in facilitating businesses in the Bay of Bengal and HIP as its newest partner is ready to offer our wide range of maritime services not only to Sri Lankan companies but international port related industries. We have already made great partnerships and are looking to extend our footprint in BIMSTEC through our connectivity with Ranong Port. We continue to grow our RORO and bunkering businesses and saw exponential growth in 2023. In 2024 we will be looking at container transshipment for which the port is now ready.”
In line with that, HIP has already begun the process of reviving the MoU with the Thailand Ports Authority. They hope to strengthen the partnership by inviting teams from the Authority and the Ranong Port for reciprocal visits in order to explore and evaluate possible business opportunities. Sharing of information and mutual training sessions for staff of HIP and Ranong Port are also scheduled going forward.
On their tour the HIPG team led by CEO Johnson Liu met with potential business partners and investors both in Thailand and Singapore to promote the port and the industrial park.
They held discussions with the Thai – Sri Lanka Chamber of commerce, extending an invitation to the membership to visit HIP, with a view to exploring mutually beneficial business and investment opportunities. The HIP team also met several potential fleet management companies and ship owners to promote the port’s ship supply and marine related services.