Investment in Thailand's new border economic zones to begin in 2015

BANGKOK, January 19 (TNA) - The Thai government, through its committee on special economic zone development, has resolved to start investment in new special economic zones in more than 20 border provinces within this year. Thai Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, who is also Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), told journalists in Bangkok on Monday that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who heads the committee on special economic zone development, wants investment in the new border special economic zones to start within this year, focused on the production of processed farm products for both domestic consumption and exports. Arkhom said that concerned government agencies will, thus, speed up developing necessary infrastructure and border crossings and coordinate the construction of the special economic zones with relevant large-scaled industrialists, cooperatives and industrial estate operators. Arkhom revealed that digital economy will also be introduced in the new special economic zones. Arkhom made the remarks after the first meeting in 2015 of the committee on special economic zone development, chaired by the prime minister, who is also Chief of the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). According to the deputy transport minister, the committee also resolved to assign the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) and other concerned agencies to discuss promotional privileges with business operators eyeing to invest in the new border special economic zones. The deputy transport minister acknowledged that locations of the new border special economic zones have not yet been determined and the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning has been assigned to finalize the locations, while the private sector is welcome to propose plots of land for the development. Initially, the committee has planned such new border special economic zones in Songkhla, Nan, Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai and Narathiwat Provinces. (TNA)