The Malaysian Insight (Malaysia)
10 August 2017
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- ECRL to Give Singapore Port a Run for Its Money by 2030, Says PM
ECRL to Give Singapore Port a Run for Its Money by 2030, Says PM
Prime Minister Najib Razak has pronounced the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to be the “alternative trade route” that will allow a projected 53 million tonnes of cargo yearly to bypass Singapore by 2030, the Straits Times reported today.
While Najib expects the fully electrified rail link to raise economic growth by 1.5% yearly, the projected 53 million tonnes of cargo that it would allow to bypass Singapore make up barely 10% of the volume of cargo passing through his neighbour’s port, say analysts.
“Singapore will still be very important for the short to medium term. It is arguably still one of the most efficient ports with massive carrying capacity,” senior fellow Johan Saravanamuttu of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies told The Straits Times.
IDSS / Online
Last updated on 17/08/2017
