Industry Ministry weighs up plan to expand EEC
THE Industry Ministry is mulling a plan to expand the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to take in the provinces of Sakeow, Trat and Chantaburi. Industry Minister Uttama Savanay revealed the idea for an enlarged EEC at a seminar on the country’s flagship economic zone in Chon Buri yesterday. The ministry would study the possibility of the extension and propose its recommendations to the EEC Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Uttama told the seminar, which was hosted by Krungthep Thurakit, a sister newspaper to The Nation. The EEC currently covers Rayong, Chachoensao, and Chon Buri. Uttama said that economic zones modelled on the EEC could also be also set up in the North and the South. Sontaya Kunplom, an adviser to the Prime Minister, said at event that some people have been concerned that the EEC developments could hurt their interests, so the government would give a clear explanation to residents that it has measures to remedy any possible impacts. The healthcare system in the zone should be upgraded to deal with any possible problems. The capacity of medical personnel such as doctors and nurses should also be upgraded to better serve local and foreign investors who come to the EEC, Sontaya said. The EEC should also be well prepared in terms of water management and measures against floods, he said. Sontaya added that that the government should provide more funds to local administrations in the zone to help them deal with possible problems. He said that in the past the area had many rice fields to absorb the floods in the rainy season but the development of the industrial zone had seen more and more buildings pop up on these fields. Sontaya said Prayut has laid down a policy that the goal of the EEC development is not to leave anyone behind.
