The Port of Ranong, Thailand will be an important connectivity for Bangladesh as direct shipping route from Chittagong Port which will reduce shipping time to Europe by 10 to 14 days as ships do not have to go all the way to Singapore, says a Bangladeshi chamber.

Ranong will soon turn into an important vital link for trade and commerce as work has started to construct a land bridge and set up a Special Economic Zone along the land bridge corridor, said the Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) on Monday.

BTCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ranong Chamber of Commerce of Thailand recently in Ranong to foster closer cooperation between the members of both associations.

BTCCI to promote Bangladesh as 'gateway to South Asia' for Thailand

The MoU was signed at an event organised by the Office of Provincial Commercial Affairs of Ranong to bring together member countries of the Bimstec and Asean network to foster closer regional trade and connections.

Shams Mahmud, President of BTCCI and Jaruwan Kiatkaiboon, President of Ranong Chamber of Commerce signed the MoU for promoting Bangladesh-Thailand business.

Representatives of the government of Thailand, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand and Thai Bangladesh Business Council (TBBC) were present during the event which was inaugurated by the Governor of Ranong Province Supoj Putikiatkhajon.

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BTCCI said they are actively working with the government of Thailand to support the implementation of direct shipping connection as this will give an advantage for speed to market for Bangladesh products destined for Europe, especially RMG.