By Yi Whan-woo
BANGKOK — Thailand pushes to develop special economic zones (SEZs) in 10 provinces, according to the country’s National Economic and Social Development Board.
It said the development began in 2015 to encourage investments from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to systematize cross-border economic activities among ASEAN countries.
The combined size of the SEZs will be 6,220 square kilometers.
Among the 10 provinces, two border Myanmar, three border Laos, while one more borders both Myanmar and Laos. Two border Cambodia while two border Malaysia.
“The government will provide related services, such as infrastructure, investment incentives, cross-border management of foreign workers and one-stop service centers,” said Danucha Pitchayanan, senior advisor in policy and planning at the board.
In relations to the SEZs, the country is also seeking to initiate the Eastern Economic Corridor project, which aims to bolster a logistics network among three eastern provinces. The three provinces have some 1,600 factories, according to the Thai media. Chonburi and Rayong are home to Amata Nakorn and Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estates, respectively. Both are complexes jointly developed by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), a state-run company under the wing of the Ministry of Industry.
The officials at the Amata Nakorn and Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estates said they plan to host more Korean enterprises in addition to POSCO and Dongbu Steel.
In particular, Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate said it plans to set up an exclusive zone for Korean companies.