ECRL poised to boost SG4 industrial output and open Thai market links

During a press conference at the SG4 Business and Economic Forum 2026, Terengganu’s chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar called for the East Coast Rail Link to be oriented toward freight services, suggesting that roughly seventy percent of its capacity should serve goods while the remaining thirty percent handle passengers. He pointed to international examples where freight corridors have spurred industrial clusters along rail routes.

In Terengganu, land near upcoming stations has already been set aside for small-scale enterprises, which could use the rail network to move products efficiently. Mokhtar also argued that extending rail connectivity into southern Thailand would broaden market access for firms in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis, creating a win-win scenario for both sides of the border. The SG4 states are coordinating to strengthen regional economic development as the railway project progresses.