As the coronavirus pandemic bites, Thailand is desperate for its US$43 billion Eastern Economic Corridor to pay off

• Four years after its launch, opinion is divided as to whether the EEC will become a tech hub that lures the brains and billions of Asia – or a cripplingly expensive white elephant
• With the kingdom’s economy hammered by Covid-19, PM Prayuth needs a win, but a lack of transparency has left locals worried they will miss out on benefits from the project

Vijitra Duangdee

 

A tanker docked at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province. Photo: Vijitra Duangdee

 

A tech hub braided with airports, ports and high-speed rail lines to lure the brains and billions of Asia to Thailand – or a cripplingly expensive white elephant from a government struggling to reset Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy? Nearly four years after its inception, opinion is divided on the country’s US$43 billion Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

 

The project, which promises an investor’s paradise of green smart cities and tax-free industrial zones powered by 5G technology, is Thailand’s most ambitious investment scheme. Driven by the government and its big-business allies such as energy giant PTT and the CP Group conglomerate, the vision for the EEC is to pull companies and technology from China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore to the kingdom’s eastern coast on the Gulf of Thailand, transforming it into the gateway to the vast Southeast Asian market.

 

Electric cars, robots and fruit will spill out from its transport points, according to the EEC’s glossy marketing literature, while high-end visitors seeking medical and wellness tourism will pour in as scruffy cities are transformed into green oases.

 

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3119847/coronavirus-pandemic-bites-thailand-desperate-its-us43-billion

 

 

-- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2021-02-01

 

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11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Electric cars, robots and fruit will spill out from its transport points, according to the EEC’s glossy marketing literature, while high-end visitors seeking medical and wellness tourism will pour in as scruffy cities are transformed into green oases.

OMG REALY , oh well TIT.

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

The project, which promises an investor’s paradise of green smart cities and tax-free industrial zones powered by 5G technology, is Thailand’s most ambitious investment scheme. Driven by the government and its big-business allies such as energy giant PTT and the CP Group conglomerate, the vision for the EEC is to pull companies and technology from China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore to the kingdom’s eastern coast on the Gulf of Thailand, transforming it into the gateway to the vast Southeast Asian market.

The key word here is ''promises''

and promises, particularly when they are coming from a junta goverment

are binding only on who believe them.

 

Green smart cities? Come on, just look at this pollution fog around us

and it's worse year after year.

Why on earth big companies from China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore would

want to come and invest in Thailand with a high baht, high wages, high corruption and so on

it doesn't make any sense at all

Well, it is not finished yet, barely even started!

Well, good luck with it, but last I read China's flagship Belt and Road initiative port in Gwadar, Pakistan, wasn't going so well; what's that old saying -  "The best laid schemes o'mice an men gang aft agley".

Whatever happens..............

 

A lot of people have already made a lot of money out of this............at the expense, as always, of the Thai tax payer...............

"Ultimately, analysts say, the lack of transparency could see taxpayers’ money flow into the pockets of Thai conglomerates and foreign middle managers rather than to those who live in the area."

 

And that is exactly how these things always work, if the the Thai workers are lucky there may be a few crumbs left over, although it also says "Alibaba, Great Wall Motors and Huawei are among the A-list Chinese companies to have bought in so far, building bases and bringing in expatriate staff."

 

The Chinese Belt and Road is being adopted by many countries and many alt sites think it is the beginning of a new golden age for the world. My fear is that these countries are being charged for the infrastructure to benefit Chinese trade going in, rather than it running the other way. China's vision is a grand one...for China. They admittedly may not be war mongers like another major power, but I very much doubt their intention is to share the wealth.

One more thought: "The airport and port flank Pattaya – the colourful resort city in Chonburi province – which is also hankering after a refit following the pandemic’s decimation of its tourist-based economy."

 

I sometimes wonder too if covid might be seen as a reset for the bar industry, not that you could morally argue against that. However a lot of accommodation in Pattaya would then need a new type of tourist, I wonder where they could find enough non-mongering foreigners or foreign workers to fill that place?

4 minutes ago, Rancid said:

One more thought: "The airport and port flank Pattaya – the colourful resort city in Chonburi province – which is also hankering after a refit following the pandemic’s decimation of its tourist-based economy."

 

I sometimes wonder too if covid might be seen as a reset for the bar industry, not that you could morally argue against that. However a lot of accommodation in Pattaya would then need a new type of tourist, I wonder where they could find enough non-mongering foreigners or foreign workers to fill that place?

The structures you refer to were not built to last. They can very easily be demolished and new condo towers or  retail be put in place.  Look at the magnificent new Central  shopping center in Patong. Tacky retail stores, some low cost lodging and the usual dirty restaurants, all were torn down and replaced by a shiny new  plaza.

1 hour ago, kingofthemountain said:

The key word here is ''promises''

and promises, particularly when they are coming from a junta goverment

are binding only on who believe them.

 

Green smart cities? Come on, just look at this pollution fog around us

and it's worse year after year.

Why on earth big companies from China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore would

want to come and invest in Thailand with a high baht, high wages, high corruption and so on

it doesn't make any sense at all

But still they do.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Electric cars, robots and fruit will spill out from its transport points

 

Need to make them a bit more secure then .. try ratchet straps .. 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

while high-end visitors seeking medical and wellness tourism will pour in as scruffy cities

 

Some might get pulled by this .. 

I've been involved in building some high tech, state of the art facilities in this country. It involved a seven story building, with communications, ob van links, labs, studios, sets, etc . Initially, it was given the go ahead in 2008, with a commitment to finish by 2010. When I finally left the operation in 2016, it was still incomplete and behind schedule. Two years later, it all came on line. Eight years late. Everything that was state of the art had become obsolescent. The continuous upgrades for every five years were now behind the curve. No upgrades forthcoming. No schedule. Ignore the plan. Piecemeal furnishing of equipment. Even the d@mn elevators weren't budgeted until the very last. This is what happens when a single White Elephant becomes a herd of them.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

A tech hub braided with airports, ports and high-speed rail lines to lure the brains and billions of Asia to Thailand – or a cripplingly expensive white elephant from a government struggling to reset Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy? Nearly four years after its inception, opinion is divided on the country’s US$43 billion Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC

I wonder if these statues at the entrance would be  appropriate??

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is desperate for its US$43 billion Eastern Economic Corridor to pay off

Ain't gonna happen soon With the way they  attract the Tourist with All the hoops they have to jump through. 

Just Insane.

A crude troll post has been removed. 

scruffy cities are transformed into green oases !!!

ooops sorry I just fell off my chair !!   anyone been down soi 6 in Na Jomtien lately ??  Its the one to the POLICE STATION !!

It resembles a rubbish dump on both side of the road with seemingly a blind eye given to "fly tipping "   Not just a sad state of affairs but pretty disgusting and one has to ask " when is Pattaya " going to get a grip " on fly tipping and people just dumping their rubbish on the side of the road with impunity .  Police vehicle and personal are up and down this Soi constantly so must be aware of the situation . Education plays a large part in teaching the young about the harm done to the environment but the problem is the lack of law enforcement / fines to those who think and know they can get away with it !    Green Oases ?? I don't hold out much hope for that without a radical change in environmental and enforcement policies .  

"Thailand is desperate....."

That says it all really.

Sorry, as much as most of us love certain aspects of Thailand, we all know the grandiose Thai plans are likely to be abject failures. It's almost guaranteed. 

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

Sorry, as much as most of us love certain aspects of Thailand, we all know the grandiose Thai plans are likely to be abject failures. It's almost guaranteed. 

That's right all the plans in the world  cannot change the actions of the man on the street.

For it to 'pay off' it first needs to be started.  So far it all seems to be the usual talk, talk, talk.