Five border areas will be developed as special economic developmentzones at the initial stage to boost Thailand’s border trade and preparefor the arrival of the ASEAN Community in late 2015.
The fivepilot areas include Mae Sot district in Tak, Aranyaprathet district inSa Kaeo, Khlong Yai district in Trat, Mueang district in Mukdahan, andSadao district in Songkhla.
The Committee on the SpecialEconomic Development Zone Policy, during its meeting, approved theestablishment of the special economic development zones in the fiveprovinces. The meeting, chaired by Head of the National Council forPeace and Order (NCPO) General Prayuth Chan-ocha, determined that thefive areas were suitable and had great potential for border tradeexpansion.
Emphasis will be placed on economicdevelopment and national stability, as well as efforts to enhanceThailand’s competitiveness, generate employment, and improve thepeople’s living conditions. Moreover, the formation of the specialeconomic development zones will ease congestion at border checkpointsand help tackle the smuggling of migrant workers and goods fromneighbouring countries.
The meeting alsoapproved criteria and methods to support the establishment of thesespecial zones. They involve investment promotional privileges, one-stopservices, measures to support the use of migrant workers, andinfrastructure development for regional connectivity.
At the same meeting, the formation of three subcommittees wasapproved to handle issues concerning investment and promotionalprivileges, employment of migrant workers and skill development, andinfrastructure development and the improvement of border checkpoints.
The Office of the National Economic and SocialDevelopment Board was assigned to conduct assessments on operations inaccordance with the policy on special economic development zones,economic viability, economic, social, environmental, and securityimpacts, satisfaction of various sectors of society, and guidelines toimprove operations.
The NCPO attaches importance to the setting up of skill development centres in the five pilot provinces.
Seven more provinces are expected to be developed as special economic development zones in the next stage.-VNA
The fivepilot areas include Mae Sot district in Tak, Aranyaprathet district inSa Kaeo, Khlong Yai district in Trat, Mueang district in Mukdahan, andSadao district in Songkhla.
The Committee on the SpecialEconomic Development Zone Policy, during its meeting, approved theestablishment of the special economic development zones in the fiveprovinces. The meeting, chaired by Head of the National Council forPeace and Order (NCPO) General Prayuth Chan-ocha, determined that thefive areas were suitable and had great potential for border tradeexpansion.
Emphasis will be placed on economicdevelopment and national stability, as well as efforts to enhanceThailand’s competitiveness, generate employment, and improve thepeople’s living conditions. Moreover, the formation of the specialeconomic development zones will ease congestion at border checkpointsand help tackle the smuggling of migrant workers and goods fromneighbouring countries.
The meeting alsoapproved criteria and methods to support the establishment of thesespecial zones. They involve investment promotional privileges, one-stopservices, measures to support the use of migrant workers, andinfrastructure development for regional connectivity.
At the same meeting, the formation of three subcommittees wasapproved to handle issues concerning investment and promotionalprivileges, employment of migrant workers and skill development, andinfrastructure development and the improvement of border checkpoints.
The Office of the National Economic and SocialDevelopment Board was assigned to conduct assessments on operations inaccordance with the policy on special economic development zones,economic viability, economic, social, environmental, and securityimpacts, satisfaction of various sectors of society, and guidelines toimprove operations.
The NCPO attaches importance to the setting up of skill development centres in the five pilot provinces.
Seven more provinces are expected to be developed as special economic development zones in the next stage.-VNA
