Private sector welcomed to invest in Thailand's state projects

BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) - Thailand's Public Private Partnerships (PPP) has given the green light for private investors to invest in PPP-sponsored 20 businesses and another 65 investment plans, totally worth 1.35 trillion baht. Kulit Sombatsiri,Director-General of the State Enterprise Policy Office, told journalists that the approval was made on Friday (Apr 3) at a PPP meeting, chaired by Thai Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula. Kulit said most of the investment plans concern mass transit systems, telecommunication, water quality improvement, garbage eradication and the development of the digital economy. Kulit revealed that PPP plans to submit the investment plans to the Thai Cabinet for further consideration and approval within this month and at least two investment projects in Bangkok will then be open for the private sector to co-invest later this year, including an extended mass transit rail system of the blue line-route from Hua Lampong railway station to Bang Kae and from Tao Poon to Ta Pra in the capital's Thonburi side. According to the senior official, another plan calls for a co-investment in an Inland Container Depot project which is meant for transporting and separating goods in Lat Krabang area on the outskirts of Bangkok. The senior official noted that Friday's PPP meeting also discussed progress on motorway projects linking Bang Pa-in area in the central Ayutthaya Province with Nakhon Ratchasima Province in the Thai Northeast, covering a total distance of 196 kilometres, and from Bang Yai (บางใหญ่) area in Bangkok's neighbouring Nonthaburi Province to the western Kanchanaburi Province, covering a total distance of 96 kilometres. (TNA)