Malaysia, Laos Forge Strategic Rail-Sea Trade Link
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (right) and Prime Minister of Laos, Dr Sonexay Siphandone (lefti) witness the exchanging of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) document between MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (MMC Ports) Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof (second, right) and PTL Holding Chief Executive Officer, Chanthone Sitthixay (second, left) at the Perdana Putra Complex today.
By Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri Syed Izman
PUTRAJAYA, May 25 (Bernama) -- 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, Laos 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-Laos 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 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
31 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
The 'Italian challenge' facing Malaysia
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Italy is emblematic of Malaysia's growing ambition on the global stage — not just as a middle power, but as the chair of Asean. While the RM8.13 billion in potential Italian investments in the petrochemicals, electronics and oil and gas sectors made headlines, the more significant development lies in Italy's evolving role — not merely as a development partner, but as Asean's strategic development partner. This elevation is not symbolic. It reflects Italy's deeper integration into the region's diplomatic, economic and security architecture. It also enhances Asean's multilateral toolkit at a time when the Indo-Pacific faces mounting geopolitical, environmental and technological disruptions. For Malaysia, it signals a deft balancing act between economic diversification and defence readiness — particularly in the maritime domain. The Royal Malaysian Navy has been undergoing a structural rethink. Force Structure 2040 seeks to modernise the fleet, improve operational readiness and assert maritime sovereignty — especially in contested waters. In this context, Italy has emerged as a strategic partner, offering advanced naval technology and bilateral defence cooperation. Its contribution goes beyond defence procurement. It enhances Malaysia's maritime surveillance and disaster response capacity — capabilities that are vital for both national security and Asean's regional humanitarian and emergency response systems. As Asean chair, Malaysia is responsible for convening key dialogues on regional security — including within the Asean Regional Forum and East Asia Summit. Italy's inclusion in these conversations, particularly around disaster preparedness, maritime law and freedom of navigation, aligns with Asean's evolving security agenda Italy brings Nato-standard training, interoperability know-how and a rules-based approach to maritime operations. These are not peripheral contributions — they are foundational to helping Asean respond to emerging maritime risks in crowded and contested waters. Malaysia's original naval transformation strategy — the 15-to-5 Programme — sought to streamline the navy's assets from fifteen classes of ships to five. The logic was sound: reduce operational redundancies, improve interoperability and lower long-term maintenance costs. Yet that clarity of vision now faces pressure from a growing pool of capable international suppliers. Italy, Turkiye, France and South Korea all offer sophisticated maritime platforms — but with differing combat systems, training protocols and communication architectures. The unintended result is strategic fragmentation. For example, a littoral mission ship requires a core crew size of around 61. But differences in platform design and system integration mean each vessel demands distinct technical training and support infrastructure. This creates operational silos — a serious liability in times of crisis or joint operations. This is where Malaysia's defence planners must exercise strategic discipline. Procurement should be guided not by availability alone, but by doctrinal coherence and fleet-wide interoperability. Malaysia's Asean chairmanship presents an opportunity to link domestic reforms — including naval modernisation — with region-wide initiatives on regional maritime security. This is the challenge and opportunity before Malaysia: to use Italy's partnership as a test case for how a middle power can diversify defence cooperation without sacrificing the cohesion of command. Italy's rising role in Asean reflects a broader global shift. Southeast Asia, once seen as a passive recipient of great power overtures, is now shaping its partnerships with clarity and intention. Malaysia has reinforced this trend — choosing to engage with not just those who offer capital and platforms, but also those who align with Asean's strategic priorities. But the true test lies ahead: can Malaysia align Italy's contributions with a cohesive national and regional maritime strategy? Can Asean build a multilateral security system where partners from Europe bring more than symbolism? Naval strength lies not only in the quality of ships, but also in their coordination — in their ability to sail in formation, united by a shared sense of strategic purpose.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM to deliver keynote address at BRICS Business Forum
RIO DE JANEIRO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will deliver the keynote address at the BRICS Business Forum, held in conjunction with the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit, today at 9am (8pm Malaysian time). Anwar, who has just arrived in Rio de Janeiro, will be joined by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who also serves as president of the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry, in delivering the keynote. Malaysia is participating in the summit as a BRICS partner country and as the incoming chair of Asean for 2025. The country officially became a BRICS partner on Jan 1 this year. During his visit to Rio de Janeiro, Anwar, who is also finance minister, is scheduled to hold a business meeting with Brazilian multinational aerospace company Embraer. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Transport Minister Anthony Loke; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir; and senior government and corporate officials. Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Brazil is projected to rise by 14.6 per cent to RM20.35 billion in 2024, up from RM17.43 billion in 2023, maintaining Brazil's position as one of Malaysia's top trading partners in Latin America.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar arrives in Brazil ahead of BRICS Summit
RIO DE JANEIRO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held from July 6 to 7. The special chartered Malaysia Airlines flight carrying him and his delegation landed at the Galeao Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro at 5.40am local time (4.40pm Malaysian time). Anwar, who flew in from Paris after completing a two-day official visit to France, was welcomed by Malaysia's Acting Head of Mission in Brazil, Datuk Mohammad Ali Selamat, and Brazil's Secretary for the Promotion of Trade, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture, Laudemar Goncalves de Aguiar Neto. Anwar is scheduled to deliver two country statements during the summit. Ali had previously said that both of Anwar's speeches will reflect Malaysia's commitment to strengthening multilateralism and amplifying the voices and interests of developing nations — in line with the core objectives of BRICS 2025. Meanwhile, during his visit to Rio de Janeiro, Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, is scheduled to hold a business meeting with Brazilian multinational aerospace company Embraer. Anwar's delegation includes Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, as well as senior government officials and representatives of Malaysian companies. Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Brazil rose by 14.6 per cent to RM20.35 billion (US$4.38 billion) in 2024, up from RM17.43 billion the previous year, maintaining Brazil as one of Malaysia's key trading partners in Latin America. Malaysia's exports to Brazil include electrical and electronic (E&E) products, rubber products, petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products, and palm oil-based manufactured goods. Imports from the South American nation include metal ores and scrap, meat, coffee, and crude petroleum.
