ส.อ.ท. ร่วมการประชุมคณะกรรมการ กพอ. ครั้งที่ 5/2567FTI Participates in the 5th Meeting of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee

On November 18, 2024, Mr. Songwan Saengwongkit, Chairman of the Eastern Industrial Council and representative of the Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), attended the 5th meeting of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EECP), which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Pichai Chunhawan, with Mr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO), serving as the meeting's secretary at Meeting Room 401, 150th Anniversary Building, Ministry of Finance.

During this meeting, the EECP considered and resolved on several important matters as follows:

1. Approved the draft announcement by the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee regarding financial transaction benefits for businesses in the special economic promotion zone. This aims to establish criteria and conditions for businesses in the special economic promotion zone to receive financial transaction benefits, with the Office of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EECO) having agreed with the Bank of Thailand to grant the following rights to businesses: 1) To repay capital or loans used to start a business or operating expenses from the capital invested in the business receiving benefits, 2) To invest money abroad, 3) To borrow or lend foreign currencies to affiliated businesses and other businesses in the supply chain, 4) To not bring back foreign currency earned from exports or income abroad to Thailand for cases where the income does not exceed 10 million USD, and 5) To use foreign currency for payment of goods or services among businesses to enhance convenience and provide more efficient cash management options.

2. Approved three drafts of regulations regarding the management of EECO: 1) Draft regulations of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee concerning the criteria, methods, and conditions for land use in the land reform area for agriculture, 2) Draft regulations of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee concerning appeals against orders of the Secretary-General under Section 43 of the Eastern Economic Corridor Act B.E. 2561, and 3) Draft announcement of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee concerning the imposition of service fees for actions related to approvals, permits, licensing, approvals, registrations, or notifications in the special economic promotion zone.

3. Approved the plan to drive infrastructure and public utilities through the EEC Business Center project and the Smart New City project. This is aimed at providing a framework for infrastructure development and public utilities, including: 1) Development within the project, including land development, infrastructure construction, and public utilities, undertaken by state agencies, with public-private partnership (PPP) projects in areas such as water management, energy, communication systems, public transportation, and waste management, as well as the development of areas for establishing circular industrial estates, and 2) External development, including the construction of infrastructure and utilities connecting to the inner project undertaken by state agencies, such as water management by the Provincial Waterworks Authority and the Royal Irrigation Department, energy and electricity by the Provincial Electricity Authority, and road network systems by the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads.

Moreover, the meeting was informed of the progress on the EEC Business Center project and the Smart New City concerning compensation payments for land, for which the EECO has compensated rightful land users.

The Office of Agricultural Land Reform (ALRO) has paid compensation for approximately 4,916 rai and is coordinating with other agencies on projects concerning water management with the Royal Irrigation Department and the Provincial Waterworks Authority, and the Australian Embassy, road systems with the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads, and digital infrastructure and telecommunications systems with National Telecommunications Company Limited (NT), etc.

4. Approved the establishment of the special economic promotion zone for the Medical and Health Center in Pluak Daeng (EECmhp), located on approximately 26 rai of state-owned land in Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province, to support targeted special industries in comprehensive medical and health sectors, promoting investments and attracting private sector interest in collaboration. Additionally, progress was reported on the project to upgrade Pluak Daeng Hospital 2 to have potential as a small general hospital (M1) and qualify as a contractor hospital for social security, which is a public-private partnership (PPP) project of the Build Transfer Operate (BTO) type, where the private sector will design, invest, and construct the essential assets and transfer ownership to the state immediately after completion. The Ministry of Public Health is the project owner. Pluak Daeng Hospital 2 will be a state hospital with 120-200 beds, serving the medical needs of the local population in the industrial area with a large population, ensuring timely, convenient, safe, and standard medical services, reducing the need for people to travel for healthcare outside the area. Furthermore, Pluak Daeng Hospital 2 will serve as a model for expanding state hospital investments in collaboration with the private sector in the future.

The Cabinet acknowledged the draft announcements and regulations mentioned in items 1 and 2 without any objections in the meeting on November 19, 2024, and these will be announced in the Royal Gazette thereafter.