IEAT ready to approve 13 new industrial estates this month
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) this month will approve 13 new complexes to be developed by qualified private firms, resulting in combined investment of more than Bt300 billion and an additional 30,000 rai of land for the manufacturing
IEAT governor Veerapong Chaiperm said about 18 companies had made proposals to set up new industrial estates, 13 of which met the qualifications. Their proposals will be submitted to the IEAT board, chaired by Witoon Simachokedee, permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, for consideration by the end of this month.
The new industrial estates will be for a range of purposes – for small and medium-sized enterprises, general purpose, and alternative energies. One will cater to industries on the Laotian border in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai.
If all 13 projects are successful, they will add about 30,000 rai (4,800 hectares) of industrial space. They will require an investment of about Bt10 million per rai for infrastructure, so not less than Bt300 billion altogether.
After factories are built in the new estates, they are expected to generate about Bt8 million per rai per year, which adds up to about Bt240 billion per year for the whole 30,000 rai.
“These industrial-estate projects will also create additional investments as well as employment in the future,” Veerapong said.
On the industrial estates for alternative energy, the focus will be on ethanol production and electricity generation from solar energy, cassava and modified starch, biogas, biomass, algae and biodiesel. There will also be production of hot water from solar energy and biologically based fertilisers.
There is currently only 10,000 rai of land available for new factory construction, while demand for space from the manufacturing sector continues to increase. About 3,200 rai is expected to be sold this year, largely to the automotive, petrochemical, electricity and electronics industries.
So far the IEAT has granted 48 licences to operate industrial estates, of which 36 have already been opened, with the rest under construction. Eleven are operated by the authority itself.
Meanwhile, Amnuay Thongsathitya, director-general of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, said applications were being accepted from entrepreneurs ready to invest in the production of electricity from Napier grass. The application period began on Monday and will be open until September 30.
The department expects about 10-15 applications to construct 1-megawatt power plants, each to cost about Bt100 million.
