Thailand's public, private sectors join forces to develop EECi

BANGKOK, November 8 (TNA) - Seven public and private parties in Thailand have agreed to join forces in driving forward the country's Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi). The agreement has been signed between the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), under the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the Northern Science Park of Chiang Mai University, the Northeastern Science Park of Khon Kaen University, the Southern Science Park of Prince of Songkhla University, CMKL University and Thai Alcohol Public Company Limited (Thai Alcohol), aimed to be part of the Thai government's move on driving ahead the national economy through science and technologies, as well as innovations. Under the agreement, NSTDA will work together with the other six allied parties in such separate areas as modern agriculture, biofuel, modern vehicles, high power battery, automatic robots, as well as aviation and space and medical equipment. According to NSTDA President Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, all the agreed areas will be developed at the 3,000 rai-Wang Chan Valley of EECi (2.5 rai = 1 acre), located in Rayong Province, including an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) project and a biorefinery project. (TNA)