China eyes to invest in targeted industries at Thailand's EEC

BANGKOK, August 23 (TNA) - China has expressed its interest in investing in targeted industries in the Thai government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project, especially in the Digital Park Thailand (EECd) and the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) clusters. Thai Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana told journalists of the update on August 22, saying that an over 500-member Chinese delegation, led by State Councilor Wang Yong, is scheduled to visit the EEC Project on August 25 to explore investment opportunities there. Uttama acknowledged that Chinese business operators have expressed their interest in the potential of the EEC Project and have paid special attention to basic infrastructure, digital, aviation, medical, bio-agricultural technological, robotic and advanced auto investment projects in the EECd and the EECi clusters, as well as those in the Smart City in its compound. The minister stated that on the occasion, there will be the signing of 10 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on cooperation between the Chinese and the Thai sides, including those to be inked between Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) on a 5G pilot project in the EEC Project, between Touch Holdings Ltd. and DEPA and Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) on cooperation in the development of an EEC startups cyberport, between BGI Shenzhen Company and Chulabhorn Research Institute on genetic engineering cooperation in Thailand, between the Thailand-China Business Council (TCBC) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) on Sino-Thai investment liaison services, between CEC Telecom Co.,Ltd. and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited (CAT) on a Hong Kong-Thailand submarine communications cable joint inventure. Besides, a plan on connecting the Thai government-supported EEC Project with China's One Belt, One Road and Made in China initiatives will be raised for discussions. The Thai minister explained that based on the connection, Thai human resources will be produced and developed to serve targeted industries in the EEC Projects, including those run by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and transport networks, namely high-speed trains, will be created between the northern Thai region and the southern Chinese part. (TNA)