Thailand to develop first "Smart Park" in AEC

BANGKOK, January 31 (TNA) - The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) plans to develop a "Smart Park" in the eastern Rayong Province, the first of its kind in the country and in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). IEAT Governor Veerapong Chaiperm told journalists of the two billion baht-plan on Wednesday, saying that IEAT is laying out its blueprint and conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project, after which, if finally-approved, it should be launched by 2021. Veerapong revealed that the planned "Smart Park" would be situated on a 1,500-rai plot of land (about 2.4 square kilometers) in the established Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, which would be then divided into four main zones, including the 723.78-rai industrial zone, the 147.18-rai commercial zone, the 393.50-rai utility zone and the 236.51-rai green and buffer zone. Besides, clusters of industries would be organized to facilitate manufacturers in each industry for their business operations and networking, as well as the management of their connectivity with other clusters and systems, taking the government's targeted industries, commercial and utility facilities as well as limited conditions of surrounding areas and the environment into consideration. According to the IEAT governor, nine Smart Strategies would be resorted to run the digital and innovations-driven "Smart Park", including the "Smart Location" as it is seated near the Map Ta Phut Deep-sea Port, the U-Tapao Airport and the Bangkok-Rayong high-speed train to be launched in the near future, the Smart High Technology Industrial New S-curve as high technological and environmentally-friendly plants with energy conservation would be assembled, Smart Energy Buildings, Smart Security with an advanced face-scanning system, Smart Social Life with advanced facilities, Smart Transportation, Smart Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Infrastructure and Smart Environment. (TNA)