The area around U-Tapao is currently home to some 20
industrial developments, with more to come. There are plans
in the works to develop properties adjacent to the airport for
cold-chain logistics and other distribution operations, including the establishment of a large free-trade zone.
As for the region’s ground transportation network, the
Eastern Economic Corridor is currently slated for rail-track
upgrades. In addition to the on-dock tracks being built at the
seaport, US$1.8 billion will be spent to upgrade existing lines
and double-track the rails between the EEC region and
Bangkok to accommodate higher volumes of intermodal container traffic.
High-speed passenger service connecting Bangkok to the
EEC will be added within the next few years, funded by a
US$4.5 billion government investment. An extensive highway
improvement project is also on the docket to facilitate the
movement of freight by truck. This includes adding lanes to
existing highways as well as the construction of new roads.
The budget for the highway projects is US$1 billion.
DEVELOPING A TALENT PIPELINE
While Thailand plans to spend heavily on infrastructure
improvements, it is not neglecting investments in human capital. Working with private industry, the government is establishing “Cities of Innovation” within the EEC region. These
“cities,” which are essentially research clusters containing
educational facilities and hands-on laboratories, are designed
to promote the development of new technologies and train
the next generation of business leaders. The first City of
Innovation—a center devoted to research on biochemicals,
biofuels, and agriculture—is already up and running. The
second, which will focus on automation, artificial intelligence,
and robotics, will open soon. Planning is under way for a
third center that will be dedicated to aeronautics and space
technology.
In addition, private industry is working with government
and other agencies to assure a steady supply of talent to fill
jobs in manufacturing and logistics. One such collaboration
is the Thai German Institute, a center opened in 1992 by the
two governments to bring German technology and training to
Thailand. German instructors taught at the center for the first
10 years, but today, local instructors provide the advanced
technical training with support from private industry. In all,
the center offers some 200 courses on topics such as automated systems, electronic controls, machine maintenance, and
smart factories.
Companies pay for the training of about 3,000 of their
employees annually. These students typically already hold
university degrees and have at least five years of experience
in the industry before they’re sent for the advanced training.
Industry suppliers, such as Japan’s Sanmei robotics company,
provide automated systems and equipment for hands-on
work. It’s all designed to assure that Thailand can meet the
challenges of tomorrow, while keeping the manufacturing
plants and logistics centers of today humming.
