Government to speed up EEC projects

BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) - The government accelerates five major projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), expecting the bidding processes to be finished by this year while overseas roadshows will be held to attract foreign investors. EEC Office Secretary General Kanit Saengsuphan said the EEC board, chaired by Prime Minister has expedited public-private partnerships (PPP) investment in five major projects. These projects are the development of U-Tapao airport and aviation in the east, U-Tapao aircraft maintenance facilities, high-speed trains connecting three airports, the 3rd phase of Laem Chabang port and Map Ta Phut port. The investment of these projects is estimated at least 600 billion baht. The government will expedite bidding processes to finish within this year. The prime minister accelerates the upgrade of U-Tapao airport and the devolvement of aviation city to link with high speed trains in the future. The urban expansion will be systematically planned, he said. It is expected the private sector will be able to propose their investment in the last quarter of this year. The government and the Board of Investment will organize overseas roadshows to draw investment from Europe, Japan, South Korea and China into the EEC project. It is expected the EEC investment will increase to US$43 billion in the next five years. Kobsak Pootrakool, the Prime Minister's Office Minister on Monday listened to opinions from the private sector about the third phase of Laem Chabang port project, worth 95-105 billion baht. The bidding will be finished in this government. Laem Chabang port will be pushed to be the Indochina’s port hub. Meanwhile, the rail transportation of goods will be increased from seven per cent to 30 per cent, saving transportation cost of about 250 billion baht. (TNA)