Udon Thani Pushes X-Ray Scanners to Boost Laos-China Trade
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Udon Thani Chamber of Commerce President Kanthapong Surawanvijit revealed that the chamber and the province's Joint Private Sector Committee are urging the government to install X-ray container scanners at the Udon Thani Industrial Estate. They also want a one-stop government service center to cut waiting times, lower transport costs, and tighten inspections of illegal goods. The private sector will propose the plan at the mobile cabinet meeting in Udon Thani in early November 2026, seeking to upgrade the inland container depot (ICD) to handle both rail freight and customs clearance.
Kanthapong said Udon Thani's strategic location can link trade between Thailand, Laos, and China. With ready inspection and customs systems, operators can consolidate goods and complete procedures before sending them to the border more smoothly. This is especially true for agricultural and processed products, which face high transport and waiting costs. Reducing redundant steps would help Thai goods compete abroad and give more options to entrepreneurs in upper Isan.
"The Udon Thani Chamber of Commerce and the Joint Private Sector Committee fully support this project because it is critical infrastructure that will boost the province's economic potential and maximize private investments already made," Kanthapong said.
Regarding the project site, Udon Thani Industrial Estate Company Limited, which operates with the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, has invested in developing the ICD on over 116 rai within the 2,170-rai industrial estate. It has a dedicated rail spur connecting directly to the freight yard and a substation already in place.
What they need from the state is additional support for fixed X-ray container scanners and a completed one-stop service center to develop the site into an "inland land customs checkpoint" — a point for inspection and customs clearance inside the country before onward transport. This must go through consideration and approval by relevant agencies.
Kanthapong added that X-ray machines will let officers see container contents and decide which containers need physical inspection, while AI technology will help analyze images to support officers. The system will also help detect concealed or misdeclared goods, including smuggled agricultural products, narcotics, and precursor chemicals, working alongside checks and data from relevant agencies.
Stricter inspection of smuggled agricultural goods is also linked to Thai farmers' livelihoods, as illegal imports can undercut prices unfairly. Interdicting narcotics will also protect public safety.
Kanthapong stated that if the government supports the project, it will leverage private investment for greater benefits in trade, investment, and transport, while positioning Udon Thani as a central hub for collecting and distributing goods in upper Isan, connecting to Lao and Chinese markets in the long term.
