Over 500 Japanese investors visit EEC projects

CHON BURI, Sept 13 (TNA) – Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko and more than 500 Japanese investors has conducted an on-site visit to U-Tapao airport and related facilities to get the first-hand experience on Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. They were accompanied by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and briefed by Kanit Saengsuphan, secretary-general of the EEC Policy committee on the development plan and details of the EEC project. The secretary-general told Japanese investors that a new aviation maintenance and repair facility will be built at U-Tapao International Airport. The Thai government has planned to convert U-Tapao airport to be the third largest commercial airport after Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport and to construct high-speed railway to connect three airports. It has also upgraded the deep sea ports in the eastern provinces as part of the EEC project and the Eco industrial town will be built. Japanese minister said Japanese investors suggested what they need for basic infrastructure development in the EEC and the trip to Thailand made them understand more about the facilities and the development plan. In the first five months after the EEC establishment, about 160 investment projects, worth 23.4 billion baht sought the privileges from the Thai government. There are also good signs the joint venture contract with the Boeing and Airbus may be signed in March next year while Microsoft, Amazon.com and IBM are expected to sign MoUs for cooperation in the EEC digital park this month. It is expected that there will be investment of at least US$14 million dollar in the first five years, particularly in these targeted industries such as future automotives, aviation, robotics, intelligent electronics, medical and health researches, petrochemicals and bio-chemistry. (TNA)