BANGKOK, Thailand – The World Bank’s Board has approved US$140.76 million for the “Thailand Resilient Transport and Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Project” (TRIP). The project supports Thailand’s efforts to build flood- and storm-resilient transport links and create jobs and economic opportunities for 350,000 people, while helping safeguard a critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population in Songkhla Lake.
TRIP combines infrastructure development with biodiversity conservation. It finances the construction of two bridges while supporting Thailand’s Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Plan, which aims to protect the last 14 Irrawaddy dolphins located in the upper part of Songkhla Lake. A US$4 million grant, administered by the World Bank, will co-finance the plan and facilitate access to international best practices and knowledge.
The seven-kilometer bridge across Songkhla Lake will cut travel time by up to two hours, cutting the current 80-kilometer detour to just eight kilometers and opening access to markets and tourism destinations. The two-kilometer Lanta bridge will connect the islands to mainland Krabi, strengthening tourism competitiveness and access to schools, healthcare, markets, and essential services. The project will also strengthen evacuation routes and resilience to floods, storms, and sea-level rise.
On the conservation side, the project will improve the dolphins’ habitat by reducing fishing-gear entanglement risks, supporting alternative livelihoods for fishing communities, and strengthening research and monitoring.
In October 2026, more than 15,000 financial leaders and participants from 190 countries will gather in Bangkok for the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings. The TRIP project highlights Thailand’s commitment to pairing climate-resilient infrastructure with environmental sustainability, as the country prepares to host the global event. (PRD)
