Pipat Discusses Bahrain Sea-to-Air Logistics Push and Halal Industrial Estate Development for Middle Eastern Market

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn met with Bahrain's Ambassador to Thailand Khaled Yaqoob Al Khayat on May 18, 2025, to discuss bilateral affairs and strengthen the nearly 50-year relationship between Thailand and Bahrain. The focus was on transportation cooperation, economic development in Southern Thailand, and improving quality of life for both nations' citizens.

Both sides commended their strong bilateral relationship, from royal institutions to grassroots level. Thailand thanked Bahrain for assisting in the safe evacuation of Thai nationals from the Middle East, while Bahrain thanked Thailand for facilitating visa extensions for Bahraini residents.

Bahrain proposed the Sea to Air Logistic Hub project, leveraging its capability to connect cargo transport from port to airport in under two hours. The Transport Ministry received the proposal for further consideration and coordination on future transportation and logistics cooperation.

On regional economic development, Pipat actively discussed the Yanaha Industrial Estate project in Songkhla to develop it as a regional Halal Hub, creating jobs and income for citizens in the five Southern border provinces. Bahrain's embassy expressed full support, offering guidance on suitable agricultural and livestock technologies to enable local Muslim communities to produce high-quality raw materials for the industrial estate and directly export halal food products to Middle Eastern markets.

The Transport Ministry also announced a new policy to better serve Muslim passengers, including installing prayer facilities on long-distance southern railway routes with separate areas for men and women, enabling Muslim travelers to perform religious duties conveniently and according to Islamic principles.