เจาะอภิมหาโปรเจกต์ ‘แลนด์บริดจ์’ คนไทยได้ประโยชน์อะไร | Morning Wealth 27 เม.ย. 69

On Monday, April 27, 2026, the broadcast began with an apology for technical issues and a tense atmosphere, but assured viewers that the content remained substantial, especially regarding recent events in the US and domestic economic concerns. The initial focus was on the Land Bridge mega-project, a long-standing initiative that two previous governments had failed to implement. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul and Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn are now pushing to finalize it by the end of the year. This project, connecting the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, is a key policy of the Bhumjaithai Party, aiming to position Thailand as a global transportation hub. The government views it as essential for national stability, self-reliance, and economic growth, especially given geopolitical challenges affecting existing maritime routes. The estimated budget for this mega-project is 1 trillion baht, with the government planning to attract private sector investment through concessions rather than using public funds. However, Dr. Somkiat Tangkitbhik, President of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), expressed concern, highlighting conflicting studies. While the Ministry of Transport's study suggests the project is viable and profitable, a Chulalongkorn University study commissioned by the National Economic and Social Development Conference takes a pessimistic view, predicting financial losses and low returns. Dr. Thanisorat Pattanarat, President of the ReRe Group and a former member of the Security Advisory Working Group on national maritime interests, offered a critical assessment. He questioned the project's economic viability and time-saving claims. He stated that the proposed 20 million TEU port, half the size of Singapore's major ports, is an ambitious undertaking. Dr. Thanisorat argued that the claimed time savings of 3-4 days by bypassing the Strait of Malacca are exaggerated, noting that modern ships only save up to 2 days. He also highlighted the substantial costs and logistical complexities of transshipping goods, including unloading, transferring to trains or vehicles, and reloading onto other ships, estimating a cost of approximately 5,000 baht per vehicle. He emphasized the environmental trade-offs for the Andaman Sea and Ranong, and the lack of existing industrial infrastructure in the proposed port areas. Dr. Thanisorat suggested that if a port were to be built, it should be a smaller local port for domestic logistics or an oil port, but warned of potential environmental disasters in the Ranong area. He concluded that the project, with its 1 trillion baht investment, is not cost-effective and advised against it. The discussion then shifted to international issues, specifically a tense incident involving Donald Trump at a White House Correspondents' Association dinner. A 31-year-old suspect, Cothoma Allen, who was a registered guest at the hotel, was apprehended after running through security with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun, and knives. The motive for the attack remains unknown. Trump, who was unharmed due to wearing a bulletproof vest, stated that even the best security systems struggle against mentally unstable individuals. He implied that the incident was a consequence of the current political climate, refusing to "lower the temperature" if it meant allowing exploitation. The program also addressed the leadership of the US Federal Reserve. The criminal investigation into alleged budget overruns for central bank building renovations, involving current Fed Chair Jerome Powell, was terminated by the U.S. Department of Justice. This decision potentially paves the way for Kevin Warsh, nominated by Donald Trump, to become the new Fed chair. Powell had previously pledged to remain in his position until the investigation was resolved transparently. The Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a vote on Warsh's nomination for April 29th, with the Trump administration aiming for completion by May 15th, when Powell's term as Fed chair ends. However, some economists believe Powell might choose to remain to protect the institution's independence. The renovation project's budget had reportedly almost doubled from an initial $1.1 billion to $2.4 billion. Finally, the broadcast focused on energy management, particularly Asia's reliance on Russian oil amidst Middle East tensions. India has emerged as a major buyer of Russian crude, with imports doubling in March, reaching 38% of its total imports. The US extended exemptions for countries purchasing Russian oil, preventing sanctions. This situation highlights the global energy landscape shift and Asia's efforts to secure alternative oil sources due to instability in the Middle East. The broadcast concluded with a discussion on the liberalization of Thailand's electricity market with Mr. Naruchon Damrong Piyawut, CEO of Gun Engineering Public Company Limited. He highlighted the government's short, medium, and long-term energy restructuring policies, including measures to reduce household electricity bills and promote clean energy. The goal is to encourage energy efficiency rather than solely adding new sources. He noted that tax deductions and low-interest loans for solar panel installations, coupled with measures for battery storage and net metering, are making solar power more attractive. Mr. Naruchon emphasized that liberalizing the electricity market, while a consistent global trend, requires significant infrastructure upgrades, regulatory mechanisms, and legal frameworks, taking 5-10 years. He suggested a phased approach, starting with large industrial users and data centers that demand green energy, before expanding to smaller businesses and households. He stressed the importance of developing a stable and resilient grid to handle decentralized power generation from solar panels, as well as investing in battery storage systems and smart grids. From an entrepreneurial perspective, Mr. Naruchon views the energy transition as both an opportunity and a challenge. He believes the market has significant growth potential for energy solution providers who can offer comprehensive services, from installation to real-time energy management using AI and data analytics. He emphasized that future competition will be based not just on production capacity but on providing complete customer service to optimize energy costs. He also highlighted the importance of balancing energy stability with economic opportunities, particularly in attracting foreign investment in green and stable energy infrastructure. He concluded that Thailand has the potential to become a leading "green infrastructure destination" in the region, attracting a new economy and boosting growth within the next 2-3 years, provided there is clear and continuous policy support and collaboration between the public and private sectors.