US pays Bt8.8bn for new consulate in Chiang Mai

[steve187]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

1.8 billion for the consulate....7 billion for the CIA microwave surveillance equipment

i think a big chunk of the money went to Huawei for the it equipment, 5G network etc.

[PEE TEE]

3 hours ago, steve187 said:

and the UK have a small space in a 7/11 store in Bangkok

yes what would you expect from the worst run western country 

[mrjohn]

3 hours ago, steve187 said:

and the UK have a small space in a 7/11 store in Bangkok

Yes but only from 9 to 5 on weekdays!

[ThailandRyan]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Part of the consulate’s mission, said the US, was to target transnational crime in the North, including narcotics trafficking and trafficking in persons.

So it will house DEA and CIA operatives then.  Well that's comforting to know.

[Stargeezr]

Yes, this is just showing that there are many Americans who do not

want to live or work inside the USA

Geezer

[tonray]

I'd like to know how much rent they pay for the ambassador's house in BKK (I'm sure he has a place in CM also)

 

Hmm...looks pretty swanky

 

[0815]

3 hours ago, Olmate said:

New OZ Embassy in Wireless Rd reportedly cost $110 million to build! Must be a big one!

The equipment to spy out China will cost the biggest money? ????

[SupermarineS6B]

I believe after selling off that lovely piece of land and buildings, the current British Embassy is located above "Spankys" is soi 11........  Class.........  Just goes to show you, an empire built by pirates then destroyed by graduates who couldn't find their rear end in a lit room with both hands......... Progress........

[mran66]

2 hours ago, Olmate said:

Agreee but why 3 times the price for US in CM?

 

 

...maybe because the whole building is actually done in US, and imported in pieces to CM, and assembled using many US staff sent here?

 

I lived in Beijing when the new US embassy was built there, literally under my eyes as was living in a 31st floor of a condo right next to it, looking the project from above. Was an amazing construction project - everything was brought in in numbered containers, and put together by American workers (maybe had some Chinese too not sure, but largely white or black americans). VERY strict security controls on the site.

 

I guess the concrete elements were done in Guam or other nearby US territory, to be 'glued' together with concrete that was mixed on site.  A pity I did not install a camera on my window so that could have a shot or two every day to see how it came together. Still remember when the president came for the inauguration - only to see the roof of his limo as drove into underground car park to get out from the vehicle.

 

Understandably would have been out of question to have this contracted to local chinese company or allow a Chinese crew to put it together - the whole building would have been well wired! But construction cost for sure was higher than what the cost to make the same building on Manhattan!

[SupermarineS6B]

50 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

yes what would you expect from the worst run western country 

Indeed.... But it begs the question.... How did it once run nearly all the other nationalities on this forum..... ?  

[tonray]

2 hours ago, sucit said:

US does not "pay" anything.

 

They simply move decimal points over on computers. 

Can I do the same on next year's Tax form ?

[tonray]

1 minute ago, mran66 said:

A pity I did not install a camera on my window

Not worried about CIA snipers ? (ha  ha ha ha)

[Plus Esse Quam Simultatur]

Looks more like they are moving Pentagon to Thailand

[ponder]

 

 #1

Posted 19 hours ago

US pays Bt8.8bn for new consulate in Chiang Mai

By THE NATION

 

 

US ambassador Michael George DeSombre, Consul General Sean K O'Neill and Chiang Mai governor Charoenrit Sanguansat jointly presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the new US Consulate General building in Chiang Mai on Friday.

 

 

The new US consulate will be located on the Super Highway (Chiang Mai-Lampang) road in Nongpakrang subdistrict and will replace the Cold War relic on Witchayanond Road by the Ping river, which was built in 1950.

 

It is the oldest operating foreign consulate in Chiang Mai and the sole US consular presence outside Bangkok.

 

“Seventy years ago the first consulate building was built in Chiang Mai, and we hope that the new building will stand at least 70 more years to represent the long standing relationship between US and Chiang Mai province,” said DeSombre.

 

 

 

Part of the consulate’s mission, said the US, was to target transnational crime in the North, including narcotics trafficking and trafficking in persons. “We also believe that the construction of new Consulate General building will help create more than 400 jobs for local people,” added the ambassador.

[DJ54]

7 hours ago, ChakaKhan said:

Do us Yanks now get Elite visas??? ????

We should huh... they should put like 6 tractor trailer boxes together and 

go with it... windows .. uhhh maybe. That’s a lot of money their spending...

 

hey what Trump wall? Did a photoshop of wall dividing the US and Mexico 

put Trump on the Mexico side they said no way ( Trump was staying on Mexico side). Jose...

[Pib]

US State Department Announcement

 

https://www.state.gov/the-department-of-state-breaks-ground-on-the-new-u-s-consulate-general-in-chiang-mai-thailand/

The Department of State Breaks Ground on the New U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai, Thailand

MEDIA NOTE

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

 

 

In a concrete sign of the enduring U.S. – Thai alliance and friendship, Ambassador Michael George DeSombre, Consul General Sean K. O’Neill, Thai Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Vijavat Isarabhakdi, and Chiang Mai Governor Charoenrit Sanguansat broke ground today on the new U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

 

The new U.S. Consulate General will provide a secure, modern, and resilient platform for the conduct of U.S. diplomacy in northern Thailand. Ennead Architects of New York, NY is the design architect for the project and B.L. Harbert International of Birmingham, AL is the construction contractor. The project is expected to be completed in 2023.

 

Throughout this project, an estimated $45 million will be invested in the local economy. The project will employ an estimated 600 American, Thai, and third-country nationals. Approximately 70% of the workforce will be recruited from the local labor pool. Many of these workers will gain new skills that will help distinguish them from other construction workers in the local labor market.

 

Since the start of the U.S. Department of State’s Capital Security Construction Program in 1999, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has completed 162 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 51 projects in design or under construction.

 

OBO provides safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support the Department’s achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives abroad. These facilities represent American values and the best in American architecture, design, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

 

For further information, please contact Christine Foushee at [email protected] or visit www.state.gov/obo.

 

 

[Maejo Man]

2 hours ago, tonray said:

1.8 billion for the consulate....7 billion for the CIA microwave surveillance equipment

All the microwave equipment was installed many years ago on the lower slopes of Doi Suthep under the guise of the "Royal Thai Naval seismic research station" Staffed by Americans and Thai nationals.

[Pib]

Another US State Department Announcement from Apr 2019 talking award of a "design" contract for a new US Office Annex in "Bangkok."

 

https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-overseas-buildings-operations-announces-design-award-for-new-u-s-embassy-annex-in-bangkok-thailand/

Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Announces Design Award for new U.S. Embassy Annex in Bangkok, Thailand

MEDIA NOTE

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

APRIL 17, 2019

 

The Department of State has awarded the design of the new U.S. Office Annex in Bangkok, Thailand to SHoP Architects of New York, New York.

 

The multi-story building will be situated on an existing 11-acre site in the Pathum Wan district of central Bangkok, across the street from the Embassy Chancery. The new building will provide a secure, modern, sustainable, and resilient platform for U.S. diplomacy in Thailand.

 

Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, OBO has completed 154 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 48 projects now in design or under construction.

OBO provides safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities represent American values and the best in American architecture, design, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.

 

For further information please contact Christine Foushee at [email protected], or visit www.state.gov/obo.

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, EricTh said:

Really? 

 

You mean UK embassy doesn't have its own building? Most other embassies in Bangkok has its own building as far as I know.

Below is a recent picture of the UK embassy complex. The swamp is where the ambassador residence use to stand.

[tokachinter]

52 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So it will house DEA and CIA operatives then.  Well that's comforting to know.

No need for the DEA to be there. The CIA have more experience with drug trafficking ….

[spidermike007]

Maybe this means they will finally start doing some outreach to the US expat community, like so many other nations have been doing? What do they spend their time doing, anyway? 

[Foghorn]

4 hours ago, steve187 said:

and the UK have a small space in a 7/11 store in Bangkok

But the uk consulate doesn’t do anything helpful unless your a vip

[ezzra]

4 hours ago, Olmate said:

OZ Embassy in Wireless Rd

That place resembles a fortress, the only thing missing are the gun turrets to go with the sour faces guards who sees you as an intruder...

[Tchooptip]

4 hours ago, steve187 said:

and the UK have a small space in a 7/11 store in Bangkok

 For France, it's in a Family Mart ????

 But the disadvantage of the embassy compared to a real Family Mart is the opening hours, only on appointments which are often full. ????

[Olmate]

30 minutes ago, ezzra said:

That place resembles a fortress, the only thing missing are the gun turrets to go with the sour faces guards who sees you as an intruder...

 Dont they know no one has ever attacked a foreign embassy.

[mran66]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Not worried about CIA snipers ? (ha  ha ha ha)

 

 

... Well in China on those days you were not too worried about US snipers as u didn't see or think about them, rather follow the countless moms and pops watching in all street corners and reporting your suspicious moves up in chain...time gilds the memories! 

 

 

[CaptainCarrot]

18 minutes ago, Olmate said:

 Dont they know no one has ever attacked a foreign embassy.

Australian Embassy: Jakarta. bomb took out the windows in the office next door as well - my office!

[johnarth]

Australian embassy has 1194 Thais working there no idea what 90% of them do, there are 4 Aust. work there to do our problems for us amazing

[moe666]

4 hours ago, donnacha said:

They may be unaware of modern Thai build quality.

 

They have plans that these building have to be bult too, probably a lot of blast protection from possible car bombs and the like.

[RJRS1301]

17 minutes ago, Olmate said:

 Dont they know no one has ever attacked a foreign embassy.

Forgotten the year long siege at embassy in Iran?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_on_diplomatic_missions

 

The following is a list of attacks on diplomatic buildings (embassies, consulates) anywhere in the world. The list does not include attacks on individuals outside or inside an embassy, such as assassinations of ambassadors, or incidents such as letter bombs to individuals