The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is encouraging 30 Japan-based companies specialising in bioindustry to invest in Thailand.
The government wants to promote foreign investments under bio-, circular and green (BCG) economic development as well as 12 targeted S-curve industries in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), said Veeris Ammarapala, governor of the IEAT.
BCG production encourages manufacturers to adopt techniques that can add value to products and have minimal or no impact on the environment while the S-curve industries include electric vehicles, smart electronics as well as affluent, medical and wellness tourism.
"We have met Japanese companies and encouraged them to invest with us," said Mr Veeris.
The meeting was part of the IEAT and the Board of Investment's roadshow during August 14-17 in Japan to promote investment in Thailand.
The IEAT talked with Takehiko Matsuo, director-general of the Trade Policy Bureau under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as well as executives from the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce to exchange information on trade, investment and improvement of labour skills.
The Jetro and the EEC Office earlier agreed to jointly push for investments in BCG, logistics, industry supply chains and human resources development, Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the EEC Office, said earlier.
According to the IEAT, Japanese business people are major foreign investors in Thai industrial estates. Their investments make up 37% of industries, including cars, automotive parts, food, chemicals, metal and iron, electronics and digital technology.
The IEAT currently runs the Map Ta Phut deep-sea port and a total of 66 industrial estates in 16 provinces, 15 of which are solely owned by the IEAT while the other 51 are operated under joint ventures.
