SEC to be set up in Thai South

BANGKOK, August 14 (TNA) - The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) will propose to the Thai Cabinet later this month a plan on the establishment of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) Project, the concept of which is like the progressive Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project. NESDB Secretary-General Thosaporn Sirisumphand told journalists on August 13 that the plan will be proposed to the Thai Cabinet for further consideration at its upcoming mobile meeting in the southern Ranong and Chumphon Provinces during August 21-22. Thosaporn said as part of the planned SEC, aimed to realize and sustain the economic potential of the southern Thai region, a dual-track train project will be developed, connecting Ranong and Chumphon Provinces with neighboring Myanmar. Besides, a deep seaport will be developed for its practical commercial use and basic infrastructure projects in many areas will be further improved, along with the development of tourist attractions along both of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman coasts in the region. At the planned SEC, the NESDB chief acknowledged, innovations will be adopted into the production of local raw materials to become more value-added products, namely the extraction and production of Vitamin E and thermal insulation products from raw oil palms, a major economic crop in the Thai South, in which its total outputs reach about 12 million tons annually. The senior NESDB chief revealed that his office will soon discuss with the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) on incentives to be offered to international firms investing in the SEC. According to the senior NESDB chief, the Manorah traditional dance in the Thai South and well-grown mangrove forests that have been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will also be promoted. The senior NESDB chief noted, meanwhile, that his office will later promote the development of the rail industries in the Thai Northeast to support and expand transport and logistics connectivity with neighboring countries, pointing out once all Thai regions have their own highlights, they will jointly drive ahead the national economic growth more efficiently and will lessen negative impacts on the national economic development and growth if a region, probably, faces a slowdown temporarily. (TNA)