Guangzhou: The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Committee is scheduled to approve plans for international roadshows today to attract foreign investment in the government's flagship project.
Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the EEC Office, said the roadshows will be held in China, Japan and Europe.
"The EEC wants to promote investment after the main infrastructure projects were approved and the terms of reference issued," he said. "The office has already established a special team to attract investors, with representatives from the private sector."
Mr Kanit said the EEC Office is directly responsible for promoting investment in the EEC, as the agency aims to attract investors to the advanced industries (S-curve) promoted by the government.
He said the international roadshows will be instrumental in drawing 100 billion baht worth of investment applications a year.
The EEC Office has been ordered by the government to attract 100 billion baht in investment applications annually for S-curve industries.
The S-curve industries consist of 11 targeted sectors in advanced technological development: cars; smart electronics; affluent, medical and wellness tourism; agriculture and biotechnology; food; robotics for industry; logistics and aviation; biofuels and biochemicals; digital; medical services; and defence.
The corridor was initiated in mid-2016, after which the EEC Office was founded. The EEC Act of 2018 was implemented in mid-May.
The government has set an ambitious target for the EEC of 300 billion baht in investment applications annually. Of the target, 200 billion baht was assigned to the Board of Investment (BoI) and the remaining applications are the EEC Office's duty.
The BoI's investment applications this year are expected to reach 720 billion baht, surpassing the 600-billion-baht level of 2017.
The BoI reported that investment applications for 754 projects were approved in the first six months this year, up 22% year-on-year, for a total investment value of 284.6 billion baht, equal to last year.
Of the total applications, 316 projects were in the 11 targeted industries, accounting for 46% of total applications worth 224.15 billion baht, or 82% of total investment.
This year's EEC applications for the period covered 142 projects worth 183.23 billion baht, up 122% from the same period last year.
Mr Kanit said the committee is also scheduled to acknowledge the progress of infrastructure development projects within the EEC.
At least three groups have submitted their proposal to bid for the high-speed railway linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao airports. The terms of reference for U-tapao's aviation city are expected to be announced next week.
