Flood-damage estimate reaches Bt128 bn, with more to come
Flood damage was running as high as Bt128 billion at the factories surveyed by the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) in 42 inundated provinces.
Arthit Wutikaro, director-|general of the DIW, said last week that the department had as of |last Friday surveyed 5,598 manufacturing plants.
This represents only half of all plants located inside and outside industrial estates, he said.
The damage to machines was the worst at Bt68.33 billion, followed by raw materials and work-in-process inventory at Bt27.85 billion, and finished goods inventory at Bt17.18 billion.
The DIW must continue surveying, as some plants need references from the department to fulfil requirements for the government’s aid schemes such as soft loans and import duty exemptions.
Businesses have been registering for government assistance via the Industry Ministry’s online channels, such as the websites of its agencies.
Out of the 1,548 registered so far, 1,055 are from industrial, 136 from trading, 113 from service and 244 from miscellaneous businesses.
Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya businesses are the most numerous to have registered, numbering 229 and 228, respectively.
After the flood waters recede, the DIW and Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit would provide consultation to plants outside industrial estates about how to repair machines, rehabilitate facilities and eliminate toxins, Arthit said.
The department expects to provide such assistance to 100 plants until the consulting ends in January, but if more require this assistance than expected, the DIW is ready to prepare more experts to carry on this work, he added.
