Companies pitch plans to boost Northeast

The industry grouping also wants to see an inland container depot in Nakhon Ratchasima and improved facilities for motor sport events in Buri Ram.
The wish list was put forward after Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Deputy Minister Somchai Harnhirun paid visits to Surin and Buri Ram provinces during the third mobile Cabinet meeting of the year. The ministers had discussions with representatives of the private sector.
The FTI in Surin proposed that disused mines be developed into bodies of water suitable for water-based tourism under what could become a “Surin model”. In the initial phase, the local state and private sectors would join up to develop and revive the natural resources.
The inland container depot project in Nakhon Ratchasima has been proposed as an extension to a zone for repairs of containers and for it serve as a project that boosts logistics services for manufacturing.
For the motor sport project in Buri Ram, its backers want to see the province entrench itself on the international circuit, drawing large numbers of racing teams and fans.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could be helped to develop the capability to produce and export auto accessories to a number of countries, with production of more than Bt50 billion per year estimated.
The automotive industries in Thailand and the so-called CLMV countries - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam - have expanded and, as a result, sales of accessories for cars and motorcycles have been growing in tandem.
Based on a 2013 survey by the Office of Industrial Economics, Thailand has high capability for auto accessories that are proving popular in other countries. All the makers of these accessories makers are SMEs.
According to the survey, demand was high for skirt spoilers, alloy wheels, car sunshades, sunroofs, anti-theft systems and front lamps.