New IEAT boss vows to finish Smart Park
The newly appointed governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), Veeris Ammarapala, vows to make significant progress in the Smart Park development project as he officially took on IEAT’s top job yesterday.
The former adviser to Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin becomes the 12th IEAT governor, succeeding Somchint Pilouk whose term ended on the same day.
The IEAT board agreed to appoint Mr Veeris and forwarded his name to the cabinet for approval last month.
Among key IEAT tasks the new governor will carry out during his four-year term is the Smart Park industrial estate development project in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, spanning 1,384 rai. It is being built to help drive new investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor, Thailand’s high-tech industrial hub.
“We expect to open Smart Park in 2024 and the facilities are currently under construction,” said Mr Veeris.
The IEAT’s plan to build Smart Park, which will support Thailand’s targeted industries including robotics, aviation, medical and digital development, is based on eco-industrial concepts.
A floating solar farm is planned to generate electricity without gas emissions.
The government said last year it would begin construction of the 2.3 billion baht infrastructure for Smart Park in the first quarter of this year.
Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said Smart Park would be completed within three years and there would be no delay.