EEC’s ‘smart city’ capital takes shape in Si Racha

[webfact]

EEC’s ‘smart city’ capital takes shape in Si Racha

By The Nation

 

 

Known for its industry and Laem Chabang seaport, Si Racha in Chonburi province is set to be upgraded as the “smart” city hub of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

 

Developers boast that the Sriracha Creative District will run on 100 per cent renewable energy to become Asia’s first carbon-neutral smart city.

 

Meesak Chunharuckchot, chief executive of Chonburi-based Life and Living Co, said it is currently pushing to develop 600 rai near the motorway into a mixed-use smart city comprising commercial, residential, office, university and green spaces as the new business hub of the government’s EEC infrastructure project.

 

The four-pronged plan features smart mobility for a pedestrian city and reduced car use, eco-friendly technology, reusable energy, and high safety standards.

 

Life and Living has reached an agreement with Hong Kong’s Ho & Partners architects to design the Sriracha Creative District, under cooperation with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The Bt1-billion budget will cover construction of buildings but not infrastructure.

 

The smart city should ease the way for more foreign investment in the EEC via tax breaks and 99-year leases allowed by the Eastern Special Development Zone Act (2018). The Board of Investment (BOI) is offering the investment privileges to foreign companies who set up international headquarters in Thailand.

 

The smart city is expected to become a magnet for Chinese and other foreign companies seeking to escape the US-China tariff war and political developments in Hong Kong.

 

However, Meesak said foreign investors still want to see more tax breaks before they invest.

 

He urged the BOI to discuss easing capital and foreign currency flows in the EEC with the Bank of Thailand (BOT), adding that the 49-per-cent condominium ownership rule for foreigners should be relaxed in the EEC to allow 100-per-cent foreign ownership.

 

Life and Living expects it will take about 20 years to construct the smart city, with support from government for infrastructure. The company is eyeing “green” bonds as a way of raising funds for the project.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392109

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-30

 

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[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Developers boast that the Sriracha Creative District will run on 100 per cent renewable energy to become Asia’s first carbon-neutral smart city

That must mean it will be fully independent from the national electricity supply grid to ensure this?

I hope it's not just an idle 'boast'.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Life and Living expects it will take about 20 years to construct the smart city, with support from government for infrastructure.

'with support from government for infrastructure' That must surely rule out 'carbon-neutral smart city'

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The company is eyeing “green” bonds as a way of raising funds for the project.

I wonder what's the chance of investors holding them to account if they renege on their claim?

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

That must mean it will be fully independent from the national electricity supply grid to ensure this?

Maybe a good thing... I am up the road a bit and my power was off again for over an hour last night, and most of the day  Wednesday of last week.

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

That must mean it will be fully independent from the national electricity supply grid to ensure this?

Maybe a good thing... I am up the road a bit and my power was off again for over an hour last night, and most of the day  Wednesday of last week.

You need to be more green - but not with envy - ha ha!

I certainly would be if it lives up to the 'dream'. Being a boring b'stard, I can tell you that since October 2013 my running total is 83 power outages.

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by bluesofa
grammar

[Justgrazing]

7 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I hope it's not just an idle 'boast'

Boast .! Should that be boost .. 

[bluesofa]

25 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

7 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I hope it's not just an idle 'boast'

Boast .! Should that be boost .. 

Probably need to get on board with a double decker.

[Burma Bill]

Quote:-

Life and Living has reached an agreement with Hong Kong’s Ho & Partners architects to design the Sriracha Creative District

The smart city is expected to become a magnet for Chinese and other foreign companies seeking to escape the US-China tariff war and political developments in Hong Kong.

 

Ah ha! The possible beginning of the EEC becoming a Chinese Special Economic Zone (like Sihanoukville in Cambodia)???

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Quote:-

Life and Living has reached an agreement with Hong Kong’s Ho & Partners architects to design the Sriracha Creative District

The smart city is expected to become a magnet for Chinese and other foreign companies seeking to escape the US-China tariff war and political developments in Hong Kong.

 

Ah ha! The possible beginning of the EEC becoming a Chinese Special Economic Zone (like Sihanoukville in Cambodia)???

Just needs a sprinkling of Casino,s and the Triad.

As for escaping the US - CCP Tariff War, - forget that.

The US is not stupid and will see straight through any moves such as this by the Chinese, and will then slap Tariffs on Thai Products as being ( Chinese owned Enterprises ), Exporting from Thailand.

Not very clever thinking.

[essox essox]

9 hours ago, bluesofa said:

You need to be more green - but not with envy - ha ha!

I certainly would be if it lives up to the 'dream'. Being a boring b'stard, I can tell you that since October 2013 my running total is 83 power outages.

 

contact guiness book of records !!!

[jacko45k]

22 hours ago, bluesofa said:

You need to be more green - but not with envy - ha ha!

I certainly would be if it lives up to the 'dream'. Being a boring b'stard, I can tell you that since October 2013 my running total is 83 power outages.

 

I haven't been keeping a running total for the last 7 years but might be up there with you. There are also strange situations often where the voltage is simply low and lights and some devices are working, but the fridge and electric gate won't. And even once where it appeared only my house was off... I was the only poor guy on that phase I guess.  This is the time of year the storms find all the weaknesses in the system!

Edited July 31, 2020 by jacko45k

[Redline]

On 7/30/2020 at 2:30 PM, Burma Bill said:

Quote:-

Life and Living has reached an agreement with Hong Kong’s Ho & Partners architects to design the Sriracha Creative District

The smart city is expected to become a magnet for Chinese and other foreign companies seeking to escape the US-China tariff war and political developments in Hong Kong.

 

Ah ha! The possible beginning of the EEC becoming a Chinese Special Economic Zone (like Sihanoukville in Cambodia)???

Seems that way 

[Redline]

It’s hard to see this materialize.  Thailand is doing even worse than before this crisis.  The government is untrustworthy, and is questionable that they can come up with much additional money, than what it will take to take care of the people in the country 

Edited July 31, 2020 by Redline