BANGKOK, Jan 19 — The government through its committee on special economic zone development resolved today to start investment in special economic zones in about 20 border provinces within this year.
Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board, said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as head of the committee wanted investment to start within this year and the special economic zones would focus on processing farm products for domestic consumption and export.
Mr Arkhom, also Deputy Minister of Transport, said that concerned governmental organizations would speed up developing necessary infrastructure and border crossings there and coordinate construction the special economic zones with relevant large-scale industries, cooperatives and industrial estate operators.
The digital economy would also be introduced in the special economic zones, he said.
The committee also resolved that the Board of Investment will discuss promotional privileges with the operators who will invest in the zones.
The locations of the zones have yet to be determined. The Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning will finalize the locations and the private sector is welcome to propose land plots for development, Mr Arkhom said.
Initially the committee planned special economic zones in Songkhla, Nan, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai and Narathiwat provinces, he said. (MCOT online news)
