Investors keen on EEC, but funding still limited

[snoop1130]

Investors keen on EEC, but funding still limited

By The Nation

 

 

Requests for support in investing in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) increased by 37 per cent in the first nine months of the year, expanding from 262 projects to 360, the Board of Investment (BOI) said this week.

 

But investment funding plummeted 23 per cent in the same period, from Bt2.3 billion to Bt1.67 billion, due to the limited number of large projects undertaken thus far, said Deputy-Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi.

 

He said the automotive and electronics industries still have a key role to play in developing the EEC, primarily in the construction of a high-speed railway connecting three airports and Map Ta Phut Port Phase 3.

 

Of 177 projects with a combined value of Bt86.7 million, 51 worth Bt26.5 million involved the electronics industry and 43 worth Bt30.8 million in the automotive industry. Another 36 projects worth Bt14.5 million involved the chemical-petrochemical industry.

 

Thaioil’s Bt100-billion-plus investment in fuel production in Chonburi has made that province the most popular target for investments, which currently total Bt92.1 million, followed by Rayong with 157 projects valued at Bt57.9 million and Chachoengsao with 40 valued Bt17.9 million.

 

Investors in other countries including China and Japan have expanded their stakes in 10 targeted Thai industries, boosting requests for assistance in Foreign Direct Investment by 69 per cent year-on-year, with 689 projects valued at Bt203.4 billion.

 

Most such requests have come from Japan, which has entities investing in 167 projects valued at Bt59.2 billion, followed by China with 139 projects valued at Bt45.4 billion and Switzerland with 15 projects valued at Bt11.7 billion.

 

Narit credited the “Thailand Plus” promotional scheme in predicting that investment in the EEC would ultimately hit Bt300 billion.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30378336

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-11-14

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[Srikcir]

Lack of skilled workers.

Lack of infrastructure to support a large workforce.

FDI competition into other ASEAN member states for better growth opportunities.

[Cake Monster]

And the good news only a few days ago, that Pattaya will face worse drought than in 2005, will do nothing to raise Investor sentiment in the EEC.

A good, reliable, and clean water supply is a fundamental requirement of any Business that wishes to Invest.