Government sells EEC investment potential to foreign envoys

The government yesterday launched a major PR blitz to sell the investment potential in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) with a briefing for foreign envoys on its most ambitious development project.

Diplomats and delegates from 56 countries were invited to the briefing by ministers in charge of promoting the special economic zone in the Eastern Seaboard.

They were assured of the facilities and benefits foreign investors would get as well as the six much-touted projects under public-private partnerships (PPP) in EEC.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool said winning bidders for the projects are expected to be announced later this year.

The six projects are U-Tapao airport and Eastern Aviation City; the U-Tapao aircraft maintenance center; high-speed rail linking three airports; the third phase of Laem Chabang Port, the third phase of Map Ta Phut Industrial Port; and a digital park worth 600 billion baht in total.

At the same time, Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said the government is setting up a fund to take care of residents in the area and working on a new city plan, which is expected to be completed within one year.

When everything has made some progress, the government will begin launching roadshows to promote EEC in foreign countries, starting from the United Kingdom, France, China, Japan and South Korea.