Thailand’s pitching US$28 billion land bridge to the world, but foreign investors not ready to bite

The absence of a full-scale feasibility study, a lack of transparency, and uncertainty over the project’s profitability are some key concerns, say experts

Goh Ruoxue

Published Wed, Feb 14, 2024 · 05:00 AM

Asean Business

IN THE roughly five months or so since he took office, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has wasted little time in traversing the globe with a multibillion-dollar sales pitch.

The former property tycoon has flown to the US and China as well as to different parts of Europe and the Middle East, to drum up interest in the age-old proposal of a land bridge designed to open up a new trade route between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

But even as the 61-year-old dangles the carrots of job creation and economic growth, there has been little, if any, firm interest from public and private investors in the massive US$28 billion project so far.