PPP Committee wants 6 more transport projects fast-tracked

The Industry Ministry will also set up a working panel as soon as possible to promote investment support and tax incentives among leading electric-vehicle (EV) makers and key parts makers in the United States, Europe, China and Japan to woo their investment to Thailand. 
The six new priority projects include Bangkok’s mass-transit Purple Line extension from Tao Poon to Kanchanaphisek Ring Road worth Bt131.17 billion, the east-west mass-transit Orange Line worth Bt195.64 billion, and mass-transit railway from Phuket International Airport to the five-way intersection at Chalong worth Bt39.41 billion. 
The other three are the Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am highway worth Bt80.06 billion, the Bangkok-Rayong high-speed railway worth Bt152.49 billion, and a mass-transit railway project for Chiang Mai.
The PPP panel chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak also acknowledged the progress of the development of the first five fast-tracked PPP projects, including the extensions of the MRT Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae and Bang Sue to Tha Phra, the Pink Line from Khae Rai to Min Buri and the Yellow Line from Lat Phrao to Samrong.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office, said the PPP panel also acknowledged recommendations from state agencies for the plan to revise the PPP Act of 2013 to enable faster joint investment between the public and private sectors.
Somkid separately met with Jetro (Japan External Trade Organisation) Bangkok president Hiroki Mitsumata to discuss economic cooperation between Thailand and Japan.
Somkid said later that Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was keen to join with Thailand’s Commerce and Foreign ministries in drawing up the master plan for investment in the CLMVT (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand) region.
For the government’s EV goals, it has launched tax breaks to court investment, including privileges for EV production, he said.
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said some carmakers had recently expressed interest in investing in the EV industry here, including hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery-only EVs. 
The working panel on promoting the EV industry will consist of representatives from the Industry Ministry, the Board of Investment, the EEC policy steering committee, and the panel for the promotion of EV incentives. 
Hirunya Suchinai, secretary-general of the Board of Investment, expects that the BOI’s tax incentives for EVs would lead to the value of applications for BOI support in this segment passing Bt10 billion this year.
The Cabinet approved the BOI’s tax incentives for EVs this week.