Piphat to scrap SEC Act and Landbridge name for new Southern plan

MGR Online•Economy•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakarn announced the government no longer has a policy to push the Landbridge project and will withdraw the SEC Act.

•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn stated on July 20, 2026, that the Landbridge project policy is discontinued.
•The government signed an MOU with the SEC Watch group on June 30, 2026, agreeing to withdraw the SEC Act.
•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn plans to consult Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on a new economic development plan for Southern Thailand.
•The current Ranong port is deemed physically unsuitable for expansion, necessitating a new port.

Overview

•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn announced the removal of the Landbridge project name and the scrapping of the SEC Act to ensure the comfort of all parties.
•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn and the SEC Watch group signed an MOU on June 30, 2026, to withdraw the SEC Act.
•Piphat Ratchakitprakrakn stated that mentioning the SEC Act reminds people of the EEC, which causes anxiety for local residents.
•The development of a new Southern economic plan awaits the study results from a committee chaired by Ekniti Nitithanprapas under Prime Minister's Order 133/2026.
•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn mentioned that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke about Landbridge policies and Ranong port development while in China on July 18, 2026.
•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn stated the current Ranong port is unsuitable due to its physical geography and lack of hinterland space after 20 years of operation.
•Piphat Ratchakitprakarn will discuss the components of port development in Ranong and Chumphon, including rail or road links, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul upon the Prime Minister's return from China.

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Key Entities

Person

Piphat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The Prime Minister of Thailand.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and chairman of the committee studying transportation infrastructure to link the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

Siripong Angkasakulkiat(สิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport.

Organization

SEC Watch

A group that signed an MOU with Piphat Ratchakitprakarn to withdraw the SEC Act.

Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนการขนส่งและจราจร)ℹ️

An agency whose opinions are required for the transport development plan.

Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council(สำนักงานสภาพัฒนาการเศรษฐกิจและสังคมแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

An agency whose opinions are required for the transport development plan.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for the development of the Southern transport plan.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The ministry headed by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Place

Ranong(ระนอง)ℹ️

A location in the Andaman region where a new port is proposed.

Chumphon(ชุมพร)ℹ️

A location in the Gulf of Thailand where port development is discussed.

China(จีน)ℹ️

The country where Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul gave interviews.

Law

Southern Economic Corridor Act(พ.ร.บ. ระเบียงเขตเศรษฐกิจพิเศษภาคใต้)

A draft act that the government agreed to withdraw.

Policy

Landbridge Project(โครงการสะพานเศรษฐกิจเชื่อมทะเลอ่าวไทย-อันดามัน)

A project to connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea which the government no longer pushes under its original name.