30 companies interested in robot industry

BANGKOK, Oct 10 (TNA) -- Thirty companies are keen to invest in or improve their automation systems, the industry minister said. Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana met representatives of the companies from the Hemaraj Industrial Estate to discuss the investment. The minister said the representatives insisted on their intention to invest in or improve automation systems and he asked them to simultaneously focus on human resources, research and development. He said that 60% of the companies are Thai and the rest are foreign including those from Japan and the United States and joint venture companies. The offices of the Board of Investment and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project already briefed them on promotional privileges and relevant information on the EEC. Eight companies planned to invest about 12 billion baht in the robot industry in the EEC, Mr Uttama said. Leading the representatives of the 30 companies, Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, chief executive officer of WHA Corp, said the companies inquired about promotional privileges available for investors in the EEC. Their investment would create demand for robots and lead to robot production in the country. She said she invited the industry minister to meet representatives of 300-400 more companies that operated in the industrial estate of WHA and were interested in robotic and automation industries. (TNA)