Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) - Thailand 4.0 in Action

Highlights:

• The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Development Plan under the Thailand 4.0 scheme aims to revitalize and enhance the well-known Eastern Seaboard. The government hopes to complete the EEC project by 2021.
• Aiming to turn the three eastern provinces Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Rayong to be a hub of investment, technology, a center for regional logistics and transportation, a significant source for human resources, a tourist attraction, and services.
• The most importantly, EEC will be the modern Gateway to Asia as strong connectivity to its ASEAN neighbors by land, air, and sea.

Why EEC?: Strategic Gateway to Asia

EEC Development Project:

According to the EEC office, the EEC area has designated 5 Promotional Zones as follows;

1) The Special EEC Zone: Eastern Airport City - This zone is located on 6,500 rai (2,570 acres, 1,040 hectares) of land in the vicinity of Rayong. The U-Tapao International Airport will transform into an aviation hub. After project complets, the U-Tapao International Airport will able to facilitate passenger volumes of 15 million people per year in the next 5 years, 35 million people per year in the next 10, and 60 million passengers per year in the next 15 years.

2) The Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation: EECi – This zone is located in the vicinity of the Wangchan Valley of Rayong and occupies 3,000 rai (1,187 acres, 480 hectares) of land as well as 120 rai (48 acres, 20 hectares) of land in the Space Inspirium area of the Sriracha district of Chonburi. These areas enhances both community and industry through research and innovation development.

3) Digital Park Thailand: EECd – This zone is located in the Sriracha district of Chonburi and occupies 709 rai (280 acres, 113 hectares) of land. This zone seeks to update digital infrastructures in anticipation as the establishment of regional ASEAN Data Hub.

4) Smart Park – The Smart Park is located in Rayong and occupies 1,466 rai (580 acres, 235 hectares) of land.

5) Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard 4 Industrial Estate -  The industrial estate is located in Rayong province and occupies 1,900 rai (751 acres, 304 hectares) of land.

Updated News:

• Many investors from China, Japan and the EU are keen on expanding their investment in the EEC said by Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the EEC Office (as of February 2019). With 24 French companies having recently visited the region to witness the EEC development plan and eyeing investment in the smart city, defense industry and human resource development.
• As of January 2019, Thailand Business News stated that Alibaba and WHA Corporation Plc jointly invest in EEC e-commerce project. These two companies have become partners in the e-commerce district project of Chachoengsao province.