TAGS optimistic on airport contract
Executives of Thai Airports Ground Service Co Ltd (TAGS), an affiliate of Airports of Thailand Plc, believe the company stands a good chance of landing the contract to manage the customs-free cargo warehouse area at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Their confidence has grown since the company successfully delivered the information technology (IT) system and X-ray system for the cargo customs-free zone (ITX-FZ) to the airport. Supachai Keowsiri, IT division director of TAGS, said the fact that TAGS was able to successfully introduce the IT system at Suvarnabhumi should increase its chances of managing the customs-free zone because it now has qualified staff and the system to operate the area. However, Airports of Thailand (AOT) has yet to decide whether to award the contract to TAGS. There are a few other companies also interested. Supachai said if the AOT decided to give award the customs-free warehouse area to another company, TAGS would be willing to transfer its technology to them. TAGS is responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the IT system at Suvarnabhumi for the first two years after the airport is opened. Earlier, a number of international companies put forward bids for operating the customs-free warehousing area. According to the schedule, the AOT should select the contract winner by the end of next month. The ITX-FZ project, worth Bt700 million, is based on technology developed to manage the custom-free warehouse area and turn Suvarnabhumi Airport into an Asian logistics hub. The system will provide a one-stop-service to customers, as the customs-clearance procedure for cargo should be completed in less than three hours compared to a maximum of two days at Don Muang Airport. The speedier process should lead to increased business opportunities. It is estimated that by 2010, the Suvarnabhumi Airport warehouse should handle 3 million tonnes of goods a year. The ITX-FZ system has been developed according to international standards, which means it can connect with airports in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and United States. TAGS was founded in 1990 through the consolidation of operators at Cargo Terminal 1 of Bangkok International Airport, with the aim of providing an alternative ground-handling service for airlines. Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation
|
