On 27 June 2024, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, together with the Ambassador of China to Malaysia and Chargé d’ Affaires of Lao PDR to Malaysia, was invited to attend the flag off ceremony of the KTMB’s ASEAN Express international train freight service headed to Chongqing, China. The launch was presided over by YB Tuan Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport of Malaysia, whereby Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin, Group CEO, KTMB and the KTMB team were present to welcome at the Kontena Nasional Inland Clearance Depot (KNICD), Selangor.

 

In his speech, Malaysian Transport Minister YB Tuan Loke Siew Fook believed that the ASEAN Express would improve regional logistics and rail connectivity in ASEAN and open up new markets. It is expected to also lower costs for local businesses especially for the agriculture sector and perishable produce due to the shortened rail cargo transport time expected to take only 9 days, as compared to 14-21 days by sea. The ASEAN Express rail cargo is environmentally friendly and will be transported through important ASEAN trade routes covering KNICD in Selangor, Perlis Inland Port (PIP) in Perlis, Thailand’s Lat Krabang Inland Container Depot, Lao PDR’s Thanalaeng Dry Port.

 

The KTMB Group CEO, Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin, also extended an appreciation to the Embassy for the continuous good cooperation, in support of Thailand-Malaysia’s rail connectivity.

 

Mr. Liu Taiping, Chairman, Land-Sea New Corridor Operation (ILSIC) congratulated the inaugural ASEAN Express connecting Malaysia-Thailand-Lao PDR-China, which is considered the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) and also a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In his live remarks, he believed it would enhance cultural, economic and trade exchanges among the countries.