Bangkok: The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) officially signed the contract appointing Mr. Sumet Tangprasert as the new governor. This move aims to bolster confidence in the industrial sector, focusing on eliminating illegal estates and zero-dollar industries.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Chairman of IEAT, signed the contract on behalf of the board of directors. He outlined three key policy areas to usher in a new era for Thailand's industrial economy. The first is implementing Minister of Industry Mr. Ekkanat Promphan's policy, which emphasizes clean, convenient, and transparent industrial reform. This includes waste management improvements, SME promotion, and the "More Travel" project under the "Clean Estate" concept to enhance the southern economic potential.
The second area focuses on restoring investor confidence by stimulating investment in industrial estates. This will be achieved by ensuring the availability of public utilities, promoting innovation and clean energy, and adopting responsible environmental management practices like renewable energy and integrated waste systems. The third area targets organizational excellence using the State Enterprise Quality Assessment System (SEPA) approach. Despite receiving the highest score in the specific mission assessment in fiscal year 2024, the IEAT ranks 7th nationally. Improving management quality in terms of efficiency, state enterprise roles, and personnel quality remains a challenge.
Mr. Sumet expressed his commitment to accelerating key policies, particularly targeting illegal estates and attracting quality foreign direct investment (FDI). He aims to enhance the image of Thai industrial estates, emphasizing social and environmental responsibility, and promoting them as platforms of opportunity. This involves designing specific benefits, reducing land costs, and fostering special clusters.
Additionally, the IEAT plans to advance the 'E-EAST Ecosystem' or the Eastern Economic Corridor's ecosystem, establishing new industrial estates to support target industries like clean energy, automotive electronics, and AI. This includes upgrading the One Stop Service to encompass information, partner connections, and workforce development, notably through the IEAT's Academy.
Mr. Sumet highlighted that the IEAT would continue to design 'new state enterprise products' to cater to modern industries. This includes innovative solutions, group privilege allocation, and the development of special industrial zones to maintain Thailand's competitiveness in the global market.