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The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Laos and Malaysia establish strategic rail-sea trade link
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Laos and Malaysia have established a strategic partnership to boost cross-border trade via a rail-sea route, with the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP) in Malaysia on Sunday. The document was exchanged between MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and PTL Holding Co., Ltd. (PTLH) Chairman and Founder, Dr Chanthone Sitthixay, witnessed by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Bernama reported on the day. The Lao Prime Minister is in Malaysia on an official visit that includes attending the 46th Summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) and related meetings, scheduled to take place on May 26-27, at the invitation of PM Anwar. The partnership between the two companies is part of the broader effort to bolster economic ties between the two Asean members and the rest of the region. PPSB is a subsidiary of MMC Port, while PTLH is the parent company of Vientiane Logistics Park Co., Ltd., which manages the Thanaleng Dry Port - Laos' integrated logistics centre and the single window customs clearance point on the Laos-China Railway. The partnership is part of a broader initiative under the regional Pan-Asia Railway Network, integrating the China-Laos Railway to create a strategic trade route linking southern China through Laos and Thailand, to Malaysia's west coast. Thanaleng Dry Port managing director Sakhone Philangam told Bernama that the collaboration marked a significant milestone in transforming Laos into a key logistics player, building on its landlocked status. He expected that the partnership would benefit Laos economically, as the country's small-scale economy needs to rely on higher trade volumes through cooperation with regional players like Malaysia and China. 'In logistics, you need agglomeration and massification. We don't have that volume, so this partnership will enable us to tap into a larger logistics network,' he was quoted as saying. The collaboration will involve the sharing of operational knowledge, joint marketing efforts, system integration, simplification of documentation processes, harmonisation of infrastructure, and short-term personnel exchanges. MMC Port is a holding company that operates five ports across Peninsular Malaysia, namely the PPSB, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port Bhd, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, and Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd, making it Malaysia's largest port operator. Meanwhile, PTLH is a major Lao conglomerate that operates a wide range of businesses including logistics, finance, railway, industrial and investment zones, and gold (Bullion Bank). Azman Shah said the initiative, which is aligned with efforts to enhance ASEAN connectivity, will reduce transit times and logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and boost regional economic growth. 'We are pleased to contribute to Thanaleng Dry Port's efforts to realise Laos' national strategy to transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked nation,' the CEO was quoted as saying. This is the second partnership that the Thanaleng Dry Port has secured with a Malaysian company. Earlier, it signed an agreement with Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd to facilitate inland port services, leveraging the existing multimodal integration including the rail network of which the TDP is a vital part. Containing the standard-gauge Laos-China Railway and the one-metre gauge Laos-Thailand rail track that run side by side to enable seamless connection, Thanaleng Dry Port has facilitated rail freight expresses linking Malaysia to several Chinese cities, bolstering cross-border trade. In 2024, total bilateral trade between Laos and Malaysia exceeded US$43 million, up from just US$30 million in 2023, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Malaysia is Laos' fourth-largest foreign investor, with total investments amounting to US$946 million across 88 projects, in sectors including renewable energy, transport, telecommunications, construction, banking and hospitality. - Vientiane Times/Asia News Network
Malaysia Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Malaysia, Laos form strategic rail-sea trade partnership
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia and Laos formed a strategic partnership to boost cross-border trade between Penang Port and the Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP) via rail and sea, with the exchange of a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) here on Sunday. The MoC was exchanged between MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and PTL Holding Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Chanthone Sitthixay. The signing was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, who is on an official visit ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit. This cooperation underscores Malaysia's growing role as a regional logistics hub and aligns with efforts to enhance regional connectivity. It will not only promote multimodal integration by combining rail and sea transport, but also reduce transit times and logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and boost regional economic growth, Azman Shah told local media. "We are pleased to contribute to TDP's efforts to realize Laos' national strategy to transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked nation. This partnership positions Malaysia as a gateway for trade between mainland Southeast Asia and global markets, while also supporting Laos in becoming a land-linked economy," he said. Meanwhile, Anwar also met with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, who is in Malaysia for an official visit, with the two leaders witnessing the exchange of documents between Malaysia and Vietnam, aimed at strengthening cooperation in energy, education and regional integration. "This visit is a manifestation of a shared commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relations, expanding strategic cooperation, and further strengthening solidarity and cohesion among ASEAN countries," Anwar said in a statement following the meeting. As chair of the ASEAN grouping for 2025, Malaysia will host the 46th ASEAN Summit, along with the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, from Monday to Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Malaysia remains committed to fostering a united, inclusive and forward-looking ASEAN Community that is responsive to the needs of its peoples and resilient to regional and global challenges," it said.
Malaysian Reserve
25-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia, Lao forge strategic rail-sea trade link
PUTRAJAYA – Laos and Malaysia have established a partnership to boost cross-border trade via rail and sea with the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP) here today. The MoC was exchanged between MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (MMC Ports) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and PTL Holding Co. Ltd (PTLH) CEO Chanthone Sitthixay, witnessed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his counterpart, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. PPSB is a subsidiary of MMC Ports, while PTLH is the parent company of Vientiane Logistics Park Co. Ltd., which manages the TDP. The collaboration is part of a broader initiative under the Pan-Asia Railway Network, integrating the China-Lao Railway to create a strategic trade route linking southern China through Laos and Thailand to Malaysia's West Coast. Speaking to Bernama, Azman Shah said the cooperation underscores Malaysia's growing role as a regional logistics hub and is aligned with efforts to enhance ASEAN connectivity. He added that the initiative will not only promote multimodal integration by combining rail and sea transport but also reduce transit times and logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and boost regional economic growth. 'We are pleased to contribute to TDP's efforts to realise Lao's national strategy to transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked nation. 'This partnership positions Malaysia as a gateway for trade between mainland Southeast Asia and global markets, while also supporting Lao in becoming a land-linked economy,' he said. Azman Shah said that the collaboration would involve the sharing of operational knowledge, joint marketing efforts, system integration, simplification of documentation processes, harmonisation of infrastructure, and short-term personnel exchanges. MMC Ports is a holding company for its subsidiaries that operate five ports across Peninsular Malaysia, namely the PPSB, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port Bhd, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, and Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd, making it Malaysia's largest port operator. Meanwhile, TDP managing director Sakhone Philangam said the collaboration marked a significant milestone in transforming Laos into a key logistics player despite its landlocked status. Philangam noted the strategic partnership is expected to benefit Laos economically, as the country's small-scale economy needs to rely on higher trade volumes through cooperation with regional players like Malaysia and China. 'Malaysia is well-established in maritime logistics, with strong links to Africa, India and other regions. This makes Penang Port a logical partner for us. 'In logistics, you need agglomeration and massification. We don't have that volume, so this partnership will enable us to tap into a larger logistics network,' he said. This was the second time that the TDP signed an MoC with a Malaysian company, following an earlier agreement with Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd to facilitate inland port services between Perlis Inland Port and TDP in Vientiane. In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Laos stood at RM99.7 million, with Malaysia's exports valued at RM67.8 million and imports totalling RM31.9 million. Malaysia is Laos' fifth-largest foreign investor, with total investments worth US$942 million across 46 projects in sectors including renewable energy, transport, telecommunications, construction, banking and hospitality. — BERNAMA
The Star
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia, Laos forge strategic rail-sea trade link
PUTRAJAYA: Laos and Malaysia have established a partnership to boost cross-border trade via rail and sea with the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP) here on Sunday (May 25). The MoC was exchanged between MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (MMC Ports) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and PTL Holding Co. Ltd (PTLH) CEO Chanthone Sitthixay, witnessed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his counterpart, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. PPSB is a subsidiary of MMC Ports, while PTLH is the parent company of Vientiane Logistics Park Co. Ltd., which manages the TDP. The collaboration is part of a broader initiative under the Pan-Asia Railway Network, integrating the China-Lao Railway to create a strategic trade route linking southern China through Laos and Thailand to Malaysia's West Coast. Speaking to Bernama, Azman Shah said the cooperation underscores Malaysia's growing role as a regional logistics hub and is aligned with efforts to enhance Asean connectivity. He added that the initiative will not only promote multimodal integration by combining rail and sea transport but also reduce transit times and logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency, and boost regional economic growth. "We are pleased to contribute to TDP's efforts to realise Lao's national strategy to transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked nation. "This partnership positions Malaysia as a gateway for trade between mainland Southeast Asia and global markets, while also supporting Lao in becoming a land-linked economy,' he said. Azman Shah said that the collaboration would involve the sharing of operational knowledge, joint marketing efforts, system integration, simplification of documentation processes, harmonisation of infrastructure, and short-term personnel exchanges. MMC Ports is a holding company for its subsidiaries that operate five ports across Peninsular Malaysia, namely the PPSB, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port Bhd, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, and Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd, making it Malaysia's largest port operator. Meanwhile, TDP managing director Sakhone Philangam said the collaboration marked a significant milestone in transforming Laos into a key logistics player despite its landlocked status. Philangam noted the strategic partnership is expected to benefit Laos economically, as the country's small-scale economy needs to rely on higher trade volumes through cooperation with regional players like Malaysia and China. "Malaysia is well-established in maritime logistics, with strong links to Africa, India and other regions. This makes Penang Port a logical partner for us. "In logistics, you need agglomeration and massification. We don't have that volume, so this partnership will enable us to tap into a larger logistics network," he said. This was the second time that the TDP signed an MoC with a Malaysian company, following an earlier agreement with Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd to facilitate inland port services between Perlis Inland Port and TDP in Vientiane. In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Laos stood at RM99.7mil, with Malaysia's exports valued at RM67.8mil and imports totalling RM31.9mil. Malaysia is Laos' fifth-largest foreign investor, with total investments worth US$942mil across 46 projects in sectors including renewable energy, transport, telecommunications, construction, banking and hospitality. - Bernama
