Osaka won over by EEC
Airport rail progress tipped the scales
Japanese investors are showing more confidence in the completion and longevity of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, with the Thai government and the winning bidder looking set to sign a contract to develop a 224-billion-baht high-speed train project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao airports on Oct 25 as scheduled.
Hiroshi Ozaki, Osaka’s chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, yesterday called on Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and asked about progress in the EEC and related infrastructure developments, especially the rail network linking the three airports.
Mr Ozaki told Mr Somkid that Japanese investors will be more confident in EEC projects once the EEC Committee solidifies a schedule for the contract signing between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Charoen Pokphand Group-led consortium.
The contract signing date was set for yesterday, but it was delayed to Oct 25 after the entire SRT board stepped down on Oct 1. The cabinet approved the new SRT board members on Tuesday.
Mr Somkid also gave assurances that the government is ready to aid Japanese investors who are major contributors to the Thai economy for the long term.
He said Mr Ozaki supports the Thailand 4.0 initiative and had urged the Thai government to participate in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Mr Ozaki believes will benefit both Thailand and Japan.
The two sides also agreed to support both the public and private sectors in human resource development.
Mr Somkid suggested Osaka support educational institutions in setting up academies in Thailand.
He told Japanese officials that the government has offered the highest privileges to foreign investors who agree to establish academies in Thailand, in an effort to supply the human resources that are required by the targeted industries, especially in science, technology, engineering and maths education.
Mr Somkid has scheduled a Nov 7-11 trip to Hokkaido aimed at enhancing trade and investment cooperation.
Japanese investors will be more confident in EEC projects once the EEC Committee solidifies a schedule for the contract signing. SOMKID JATUSRIPITAK Deputy prime minister