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The
Invesment Promotion
Drive
To
promote investment in Thailand, in addition to BOI, the
government has set up several specialized agencies and
institutions to help with the physical implementation of
industrial projects.
Industrial
Estates
To
cope with the problems of major cities and to fulfill regional
development objectives. The Industrial Estate Authority of
Thailand (IEAT) was established in 1979 as a state enterprise.
The government aimed to accelerate industrialization and urban
development planning through implementation of well-equipped
industrial locations as a way to help solving the problems of
urban deterioration.
Industrial
estates provide a wide range of public utilities and facilities
such as roads, sewers, central waste-water treatment plants,
electricity, and telecommunications together with necessary
services such as post and telegraph offices, banks, residences,
and oil service stations. There are two categories of industrial
estates: a General Industrial Zone (GIZ), intended for
industries of other business beneficial or related to industries,
and an Export Processing Zone (EPZ), designated for export
manufacturing industries.
Firms
located in an EPZ are exempt from import duties on machinery,
equipment, inputs needed for the manufacture of exports, and
export duties Custom officials are stationed at the EPZ to
monitor the imported raw materials and exported finished goods,
and firms in the EPZ do not have to put up any form of guarantee.
Industrial
estates were initially the almost exclusives domain of the
Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, but now the private
sector and joint-ventures with the IEAT can establish industrial
estates. There are now more than three dozen industrial estates
in all regions of Thailand, and more are under construction. The
vast majority of these industrial estates have received
promotional privileges from the Board of Investment and must
comply with strict standards with regard to factory facilities
and utilities. So, investors seeking factory facilities are
faced with a growing number of choices.
The
Eastern Seaboard Development Programme, which was launched in
1981, has the aim of promoting industrial development and
decentralizing the economy. This project is comprised of two
principal locations, Map Ta Phut, and Laem Chabang.
Map
Ta Phut, a designated industrial zone with an area of 6,000 rai,
located about 200 km. southeast of Bangkok has become the centre
of a fully-integrated petrochemical complex based on a supply of
natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand. The zone will also have a
deep-sea port and serve as an industrial estate for capital and
technology-intensive concerns and all are in occupied.
Laem
Chabang, located in Chon Buri Province with an area of 3,556 rai,
155 km. southeast of Bangkok and about 15 km. north of the
resort town of Pattaya, will have a deep-sea port, a general
industrial zone and an EPZ, as well as commercial areas.
Industries set up here will be principally light, labour-intensive,
and non-polluting. The land is still available for rent in EPZ
only.
Standardization
is an essential tool for the development of the economy and
industry of the country. Realizing the importance of
standardization, the Ministry of Industry promulgated the
Industrial Product Standards Act in 1968 which established the
Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) as the national
standards body responsible for standardization activities in
Thailand. The objectives of TISI are to increase the reliability
and the popularity of the local products, to provide a basic of
fair trade and fair practice environment, to eliminate barriers
to trade, to guarantee the safety and protection of the people
and public property, and to save resources and cost in
production while keeping pace with the development of industry.
The
Institute, in its capacity as the national standards body,
represents Thailand as member of various international
organizations (both regional and global) to participate in the
formulation of opinions and rulings on issues that may affect
the country's economy.
In
1991, the Institute announced the adoption of TIS/ISO 9000
series as National Standard for Quality Systems. This is, in
every aspect, similar to the international ISO 9000 series
established by the International Organization for
Standardization and to the European Standards EN 29000. With
this world class standard, the industry of Thailand will become
more competitive in the international market.
The
Institute has formulated many standardization issues concerning
environmental protection and the enhancement of the quality of
life. It has also overseen the promulgation of a Royal Decree
requiring many products to conform to standards. To enforce this
law, the Institute works in close cooperation with other
government bodies. The industrial standards of Thailand have now
achieved international acceptance.
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