High speed train/EEC

Chatrudee Theparat

The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EEC Board) has acknowledged to have a progress in amending a contract of the 224-billion-baht high-speed train connecting three airports and expected its construction will start by this April, according to Chula Sukmanop, secretary-general of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO).

After this, the board required the EECO and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to confirm the original investment type of public-private partnership (PPP) remains in place.

The EEC Board also assigned the SRT and related agencies to proceed with the previous announcement of the EEC board of PPP investment for the high-speed train project connecting three airports. The amended contract will be proposed to the cabinet after a consulting process to the Office of the Council of State and the Secretariat of the Cabinet and the Office of the Attorney General.

Chula Sukmanop

In addition, the meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunavajira, approved the Eastern Aviation City Promotion Zone (EECa)’s area of 714 rai which is the property of the Treasury Department to be the investment promotion zone under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy. The zone covers the area of construction of the second runway of U Ta Pao airport.

The committee also approved an establishment of the special economic promotion zones of the Chachoengsao Industrial Estate Bluetech City with 1,172 rai in Khao Din sub district, Bangpakong district of Chachoengsao.

The industry estate is expected to drive the expansion and development of special targeted industries including smart vehicles, smart electronics, aviation and logistics, digital, human resource development and education.

The investment in the area is expected to be worth approximately 156 billion baht, as well as a support for domestic entrepreneurs by using parts and equipment from domestic manufacturers in the proportion of up to 90 % for electric vehicles which manufacture in the project.

The project is expected to create 20,000 jobs and continuous business opportunities for local communities such as community shops, hotels, dormitories. It is considered as an economic stimulus scheme from the community level to the national level.