Thai PM gives green light for construction of EEC Smart Park project

BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha on Thursday (March 31) pressed the button to officially start the construction of the Smart Park estate in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

In a teleconference ceremony from Government House, Prayut said in his opening speech that the Smart Park industrial estate project in the EEC is a part of the Thailand 4.0 policy of his government.

Prayut said the Smart Park project is a mechanism for driving the country’s economy through new S-Curve industries that will be drawn to the Smart Park zone in the future.

The prime minister said the new S-Curve industries, which will use advanced technologies, will be environmentally friendly and create a lot of jobs for local people.

Prayut said the cooperation by all sectors to push for the EEC and Smart Park project will create a strong and sustainable economy for the country.

Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said in his teleconference speech that the Smart Park project was approved by the Cabinet on Sept 29, 2020 to be built on a 1,400-rai plot in Tambon Huay Pong in Muang district of Rayong province.

PM gives green signal for construction of EEC Smart Park projectThe THB2.37-billion project will drive the country’s economy through investment in the high-tech industrial zone, Suriya said.

He said the ongoing construction is hiring about 200 workers and the construction will lead to circulation of THB24 million a year in the province.

Once the Smart Park industrial zone is open, it would create 7,400 jobs and a circulation of THB1.3 billion in the local economy a year, the minister added.

“From the plan, after the construction contract is signed, it will take three years to build Smart Park and it will be in operation in 2024,” Suriya said.

He said although the prime minister had just pressed the button to formally started the project, the construction had begun earlier. By March 21, 7.66 per cent of the construction had been completed, Suriya said.

Speaking on stage at the construction site, Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand governor Weerit Amrapal said the Smart Park project will cater to new S-Curve industries that use advanced technologies, which are environmentally friendly.

The new S-Curve industries include digital, robot, comprehensive medical, aviation and logistics industries, Weerit said.

He said the Smart Park would be ready to accommodate industries of the future because the zone will be equipped with all necessary facilities and all of its buildings will be constructed to international standards.