Chinese Firm has taken interest in developing light rail in Phuket. Their Representative, Francis Soo of Ershisanye Construction Group, a mainland Chinese construction conglomerate paid a visit to the Phuket Governor, Wichai Phraisa-ngop at the Provincial Hall yesterday to discuss the possibility of light- rail public transport system development in Phuket.

Ershisanye was founded in 1953 and engaged in construction engineering, mining development and operation, real estate and related industries. The firm is part of China Minmetals group and last month ranked 332 on the 500 Fortune list. This company annual revenues is just under US$25 billion.

Mr Soo was escorted by other representatives of the firm and Phuket MP Raywat Areerob.

“The traffic problem in Phuket needs to be solved. I have presented the issue to many overseas investors and this is one firm that has expressed interest in building a light railway project on the island,” Mr Raywat said.

Gov Wichai presented Mr Soo with a copy of a government-commission research study entitled Feasibility Study of Light Rail Transit for Phuket and Phuket Airport Rail Link.

According to MP Raywat, Ershisanye was prepared to cooperate in a joint invest with the government for project and yesterday’s meeting was the preliminary only. In the other hand, Gov Wichai thanked both MP Raywat and his guest for taking the time to visit.

If the project proceeds further to a real establishment, this light rail system would go a long way for this kind of transportation system that is needed by Phuket especially for the submission of World Expo 2020 host, he said.

Mr Soo said Phuket’s reputation as a famous tourist destination urge the area to have a better transport system affected varied companies have interest toward this area.

“We’ll study this project and come back with a proposal as soon as possible. I think it will take about a month,” he said.

News by Phuket Gazette