Hambantota Port-Thailand Ports Authority strengthen bond

HIPG CEO Johnson Liu presents a souvenir to Ports Authority of Thailand Head of Business Promotion and Marketing Waraporn Wongsiri 

Given Sri Lanka’s recent interest in Thailand for trade and commerce, the officials from 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 the 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 the PAT, is an obvious choice for the HIP in making strides to the BIMSTEC region,” said HIPG CEO Johnson Liu.

HIPG General Manager Commercial and Marketing Lance Zuo said, “BIMSTEC is an important instrument in facilitating businesses in the Bay of Bengal and the 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 the 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, the HIP has already begun the process of reviving the memorandum of understanding with the PAT. It hopes to strengthen the partnership by inviting teams from the PAT and Ranong Port for reciprocal visits, in order to explore and evaluate possible business opportunities. Sharing of information and mutual training sessions for staff of the HIP and Ranong Port are also scheduled going forward. 

On their tour, the HIPG team led by Liu, met with the potential business partners and investors, both in Thailand and Singapore, to promote the port and industrial park. 
They held discussions with the Thai-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, extending an invitation to the membership to visit the HIP, with a view to exploring mutually beneficial business and investment opportunities. The HIP team also met several potential fleet management companies and shipowners to promote the port’s ship supply and marine-related services.