EEC office told to hasten infra investments
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Monday (January 6) urged the Eastern Economic Corridor Office to hasten the start of investment in key infrastructure projects, in his policy speech to the office.
The projects include development of a high-speed train route linking Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-tapao Airport, and Phase 3 of Map Ta Phut deep sea port.
Others are Phase 3 of Laem Chanbang deep sea port, the development of U-Tapao Airport as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service facilities.
Last October, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and a consortium led by Charoen Pokphand group signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract for the high-speed rail project linking the three international airports.
Somkid added that the government was also keen to proceed with the Northern Economic Corridor (NEC) and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) projects.
Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of Eastern Economic Corridor Office, said partnerships would be formed for all key projects in the first quarter of this year.
He expected Thai Airways International and Airbus to sign a contract on the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in the second quarter.
The investment in EEC, he said, will meet this year's target of Bt300 billion. It is now a good time for the private sector to import capital goods thanks to the strengthening baht, Kanit said. The EEC covers three eastern provinces of Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong.
