Leam Chabang port going to completely to be electronic port (E-port)

According to the seminar issued by Ministry of Finance about moving up of logistics to raise Thailand's competency for global competition, set on August 21-22, 2004 at Hilton Hotel, Huahin, Prachuabkseereekhan province the main objective in such meeting was to integrate planning and accomplishing of both private and government sectors, strictly in the aspect of logistics itself. After these, its results would raise competencies of our country undisputedly. So, sequels of these events are strategic plan to advance logistic system for national level which is composed of two main strategies; 1. Strategy to develop surface logistics 2. Strategy to develop air logistics

On the other hand, the surface plan has many sub-plans and one among those elements is heading for being gateway of our region to get more comparative advantage than neighboring rivals. As described, LCP could be exploited to obtain much flows of customers from Indochina region, even from Southern part of RPC and also Satul Port could be set up to serve entrepreneurs from South Asian area especially. Instantaneously, the plan is responsible for activation of transport system in the inner zone of Bangkok and promotion of other local ports too.

As we know, the key success factors to accomplish the plan are using the effective technology and having both local and global connections. Thus, the sophisticated IT is deemed as the most significant base to lead LCP to be the port with high efficiency. At the same moment, such kind of IT, is indicated both potency and readiness for arbitrary ports of connecting marine transport to other multi-model transport which requires complex and delicate technology especially for filing, interchanging, analyzing, searching and forwarding to any other units.

For example, from port to port or from port to other mode such as railroad, automobile, coast ship etc. On the other hand, as the connecting between port and several outside organization eg. Customs Department, entrepreneurs, ship representatives or suppliers.

Since E-Logistics was judged as indispensable policy for enhancing national competency , Ministry of Science & Technology collaborated with Ministry of Transport & Communications and Ministry of Finance have to issue the guidance for transforming LCP to be "electronic Port"( E-Port ). It was strongly believed that paperless system in e-Port might facilitate most of customers. Then, on December 28, 2004, MOU was signed for the trial project of e-Port in LCP.In details, this LCP's trial project must be configurated by each department from those three ministries. That was Customs Department, PAT, and NSTDA. Hence, these alliances had a strong commitment to finish the assignment as exercised by governmental policy about, as we used to cite, raising national competency. Consequently, they were obliged to interchange their useful informations in order to assist customers and to reduce every forms of costs and expenditures. Of course, advance equipments were terribly necessary.

After all, every working groups, with great expectations, shall have actively run this project by means of these following items;

1. Target : To transform LCP to be e-port having these properties

		Manifestation and interchange of informations among all such as Customs Department, LCP, Port Operator, Ship representatives, transporters, supplier's etc.
		Possessing prototype of pre delivery system, at its station especially by custody merchandise dealers, tax free areas, and relevant organizations.

2.Organizations associated :

Major colleagues

		Customs Department
		LCP, PAT
		NSTDA
		TIPS Co., Ltd. (B4 Terminal)
		Kerry Siam Seaport Co., Ltd.

Supporting Colleagues

		Indentify Co., Ltd.
		IBM (Thailand) Ltd.

3. and Actions of associated organizations :

Customs Department

		Set a tryout of RFID technology to inspect the approved transport route.
		Set a tryout of manifestation activity.
		Command to release imported merchandises with e-Logistics system, followed by TPS (B4 Terminal) and any other ports if possible, including PDI (Pre delivery Inspection) station or Kerry Siam Seaport Co., Ltd.

LCP, PAT

		Apply a tryout of RFID technology at LCP's PDI station, B4 Terminal for both imported and exported merchandise.
		Apply a tryout of RIFD technology at LCP's PDI station to control payment system of vehicles passing by.
		Collaborate to develop the information system for convenience of working colleagues.
		Accelerate to expand and upgrade the data express way within LCP including exploitation of wireless staffs

NSTDA

		Yield consultation and IT service especially that of government sector including other breakthrough.
		Serve as consultants for choosing and designing of IT systems such as RFID, Smartcard etc.
		Communicate with other units to motivate, detect, evaluate and report the progression as well

TIPS Co., Ltd.

		Apply a tryout of RFID technology as an entrepreneurs to both imported and exported merchandise.
		Apply a tryout of manifestation of information together with other working units.
		Follow a command from Customs Department, LCP to release merchandise.

Kerry Siam Seaport Co., Ltd.

		Apply a tryout of manifestation of information together with other working units.
		Follow a command from Customs Department, LCP to release merchandise.

In summary, success and accomplishment of e-Port project shall be obtained by cooperative digitalization of every participatory working units as described previously.

Straightforwardly to target and plan, this project was closely supervised under the committee presided by Minister of Finance, Minister of Transport & Communication and Minister of Science & Technology. All of the personals acted as major consultants also came with Director of Customs Department, Managing Director of PAT and Managing Director of NSTDA as presidents for committee.

Ultimately, the outcome from this project shall be a part of success from strategic plan of improving of logistic system in Thailand. This will point out the destination of our country to be logistics hub of Indochina region. It obviously show the brightside for both entrepreneurs and service provider to connect and obtain the oversee newcomers. Because innovated and advanced technology have enhanced the high efficiency of administration such as cost efficiency, responsiveness and reliability security, every and all players should have been strengthen with out suspect!