Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Thai Ministry of Industry, the IndustrialEstate Authority of Thailand, the Water and Environment Institute for Sustainability,and the Federation of Thai Industries have held the Eco Innovation Forum 2019,on the theme ‘The Economy: Way to a Smart and Sustainable Eco Industrial Town,’raising awareness in the industrial sector of the circular economy concept ineco industrial town development to maximise efficiency in resource consumption.

Exhibitions on eco industrial town development were held in the forum bygovernment agencies, entrepreneurs, and educational institutions. Some 200 EcoFactory awards were given to winning industrial estates and factories.

Advisor to the Minister of Industry Theerayut Wanitchang said the Ministry ofIndustry has clear goals to encourage OTOP entrepreneurs and SMEs to adopt theBio Economy, Circular Economy, and Green Economy or BCG Model in theiroperations.

The Ministry of Industry and the Federation of Thai Industries have signed anagreement on the Factory 4.0 industry development model through the BLISSProject aimed at promoting the Circular Economy concept maximising added valuefrom limited resources, by designing products that encourage recycling, promoteinnovations and help efficiently reduce resource and energy consumption in anenvironmentally friendly manner.

The eco industrial city project was piloted in Ban Chang, Rayong, to supportfuture industrial development in the Eastern Economic Corridor, and to promoteproper electronic waste processing.

The Ministry of Industry is expected to turn all industrial estates in Thailandinto eco industrial cities fully engaged in the Circular Economy by 2021./.