More Industrial Estates to Accommodate Investment Growth The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, Ministry of Industry, has announced plans to set up 28 additional industrial estates to accommodate the expanding production base. It has been reported that Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk said that the establishment of the new industrial estates is in response to the "Country Strategy" and in preparation for the realization of the ASEAN Community in 2015. During April and May of this year the IEAT received proposals from private companies on new industrial estates when a total of 28 projects were proposed: 18 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) industrial estates; four logistics industrial estates, and six, which will link the East-West Economic Corridor in northeastern Thailand. The 18 SME industrial estates are designed to strengthen cluster-based industries for both Thai and foreign investors. The proposed sites are in Chonburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao, and Ayutthaya targeting companies engaged in automobiles and automotive parts, electronics and electrical appliances, and agro-industry and related businesses. The four logistics industrial estates will locate in the Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai, with the aim to provide logistics services and facilitate border trade. Government policy is to develop Chiang Rai into a special economic zone to promote strategic partnerships with neighboring countries and increase border trade. The border trade with Chiang Rai-- Myanmar, Laos, and southern China - increased six-fold over the past 10 years as a result of the development progress made under the framework of the Greater Mekong Subregion. The industrial estates connecting with the East-West Economic Corridor will aim to develop area-based industries in the northeastern region. The 28 projects cover an area of 14,000 rai, or 5,600 acres and will create 530,000 jobs as well as generate more than 800 billion baht in investment funds. Construction is expected to be completed in the next few years.
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