Aviation hub / ignite Thailand

Chatrudee Theparat

The government vows to develop infrastructure both new and existing projects to support Thailand as an aviation and logistics hub of the region.

Prime Minister Steetha Thavisin will announce this mission on March 1 with a plan to upgrade Thailand as an aviation and logistics hub in the region.

Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister, said the government will implement the infrastructure projects nationwide in order to upgrade the country’s logistics and aviation, considered as the highest investment ever in the past 20 years. The infrastructure projects will range from rail, road, air to marine transport.

Prime Minister Steetha Thavisin

The government will continue the infrastructure projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) such as U-tapao airport, high speed trains to link three airports, and Thai-Sino high speed rail from Bangkok to Nong Kha, as well as a new project of Thailand’ southern land bridge. The U.S., China, Japan and Saudi Arabia are among the countries to show interest to invest in the land bridge project.

“The investment is aimed at boosting confidence among foreign investors to invest in Thailand,” Mr Prommin said.

He said the investment in the land bridge project will be spent with both government budget and in the form of public private partnership (PPP). The investment will help lift Thailand’s competitiveness in long term. The government will promote the infrastructure development projects when the prime minister will visit France and Germany in early next month.

Chai Wacharonkee, government spokesman said, the prime minister Sreetha Thavisin announced the plan to upgrade Thailand as the aviation and logistics hub in the region. The plan will include a roadmap, both short term and long term, to strengthen Thailand as the hub of the region.

In short term, Mr Chai said the government will improve efficiency of Suvarnabhumi airport, along with an expansion plan of the airport in the first six months after this March. Under its plan, catering and maintenance center of Suvarnabhumi airport will be improved.