Once an antiquated and neglected gateway, Bangkok’s old port is set to be redeveloped into a SMART PORT featuring the latest in advanced technologies, automation, and environmental sustainability. It will be surrounded by a new, modern community, and the government is pledging that all of it will be world-class.

Until recent decades, the port was the lifeblood of Bangkok. Trade is the chief driver of Thailand’s economy, and Bangkok rose to prominence as a city because of its port on the Chao Phraya River, which connects the capital to the Gulf of Thailand and the Pacific Ocean.

However, as the Kingdom industrialized, other ports on the eastern seaboard near manufacturing centers grew in importance and overtook Bangkok Port. The capital’s port lagged behind, and the surrounding area fell into neglect.

That is about to change. With the Kingdom determined to elevate trade to new levels, the Port Authority of Thailand is committed to upgrading, redeveloping, and modernizing the capital’s port and transforming the slum that surrounds it into a vibrant new neighborhood. This will benefit Thai exporters based in or around Bangkok, as well as businesses overseas that wish to ship directly to the capital.

The Port Authority of Thailand "is committed to developing a semi-automated SMART PORT and GREEN PORT, balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship to make Thailand’s ports key drivers of the national economy while protecting the quality of life and sustainability of local communities,” said Thamsin Sribangpleenoi, Deputy Managing Director of Bangkok Port.

The upgrades will expand the port’s container capacity, modernize services to international standards, and enhance customer satisfaction, Thamsin said. Phase 1 of operations is expected to begin in 2030.

The master plan for the port’s redevelopment calls for a mixed-use development under the “Smart Community” concept, creating high-rise residential units and transforming the surrounding area into a transport hub with modern amenities.