EEC development cited as the first step toward a new facet of Thailand
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has cited the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as the first step leading to a new facet of Thailand and a better future of the country.
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The Prime Minister on 5 April 2017 chaired a meeting of the EEC Development Policy Committee at U-Tapao Airport in Ban Chang district, Rayong province. He also visited the EEC project site within U-Tapao Airport.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister said that the EEC development project received a positive response from investors, who expressed their satisfaction with the Government’s policy on the project. He is confident that the project would greatly benefit Thailand and CLMV countries, comprising Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The Prime Minister urged people living around the EEC project sites in Chon Buri, Rayong, and Chachoengsao to cooperate with the Government in the EEC development. The Government would support education development to produce a workforce in response to the growth of the EEC in the future.
Moreover, it would facilitate the operations of the private sector through tax, non-tax, and legal measures. At the same time, the EEC development would be carried out in equilibrium with natural resource and environmental conservation.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on cooperation in aviation and logistics industries. The first MOU, signed between the Royal Thai Navy and Thai Airways International Public Company, involves the development of the first phase of an aircraft maintenance center.
The second MOU was also signed between the Royal Thai Navy and Thai Airways International Public Company. It seeks to develop the first phase of an air transport and logistics center. The third MOU was signed between the Royal Thai Navy and the Civil Aviation Training Center for the Development of Aeronautical and Aerospace Training Center.
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said that major companies, such as BMW, Toyota, Ali Baba, Lazada, Google, and Microsoft, have shown interest in investing in the EEC development project.
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has set aside 26 billion baht to invest in infrastructure development for three EEC projects, namely the development of the third phase of the Port of Map Ta Phut, the establishment of the Digital Park Thailand, and the preparation for new sites to accommodate an industrial estate in the EEC.
