Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong Provinces have been designated for the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a pilot project for the economic development of Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard. Over the past 30 years, these three provinces have been developed to support the fast growing industries. It was the “eras of industrial revolution”. In 1987, Map Ta Phut industrial estate was established and it was the beginning of the development of Thai heavy industry, such as petrochemical, auto and electronics industries. These eras are also called Thailand 3.0. Today, Thailand is ready to move forward to the era of Thailand 4.0.

The EEC area covers over 13,000 Km2. The government has launched measures to support and accelerate the economic growth in the EEC, for instance, measures to develop public utilities, transportation systems, logistics, human resources, and investor’s facilitation in the form of One-Stop Service Center.

In the future, the EEC will grow into a modern metropolitan, a hub of trade and investment, a center for regional transportation and logistics, a significant source for human resources, a tourist attraction and most importantly, the most modern Gateway to Asia.

The Gateway to Asia represents a hub with the most comprehensive and modern transportation system for the distribution of goods and the transportation of passengers, for instance:

Air Transportation

• U-Tapao Airport will be upgraded to an International Airport to accommodate more than three million passengers per year.
• Aviation Maintenance Center with smart technology provides services with the most modern and eco-friendly technology.

• Laem Chabang deep-sea port (expansion to the 3rd phase) is the main sea port for containers and transportation of passenger cars and has the capacity of 18 million TEU and 3 million cars per year
• Map Ta Phut deep-sea port (expansion to the 3rd phase) is a sea port mainly used to transport liquid and natural gas for energy production and to support the national petrochemical industry
• Satahip commercial seaport is a port for modern cruises and connects tourists’ destinations of the Gulf of Thailand. This port will also accommodate ship building and oil platform building industries

• High-speed trains will connect three international airports: Donmuang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao
• Double-track railways for freight transport at low-cost will connect Laem Chabang port to Map Ta Phut port
• Motor-way extension project from Bangkok to Rayong will ease the transportation among these provinces

• Corporate income tax exemption up to 15 years
• Exemption of import duty on machinery, raw and essential material used for export products and products used for R&D
• Financial incentives for investment in R&D, innovation or human resources development in targeted industries
• Permit to own land used for BOI promoted projects
• Facilitation for visas and work permits

The one-stop service center provides comprehensive information related to investment in the EEC. The center also offers services for licenses application, such as trade, import, and export licenses. Targeted projects in the EEC with special importance to the country will also receive government support in the form of Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

This significant development and transformation of the EEC will lead to Thailand’s economic growth and sustainability. The government has strong commitments to the development of the EEC, as well as to bring prosperities to the Thai people and the country.