Government earmarks first 10-billion baht for Thailand Future Fund to start three highway projects



BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday kick started the 100-billion baht Thailand Future Fund (TFF) with the endorsement of the first 10 billion bah seed money for investment in three infrastructure projects.

Director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the first 10 billion baht will be provided by the Ministry of Finance through the Vayupak Fund while the remaining 90 billion will come from private investors.

He said the first seed money will be for three highway projects, the Bangkok-Rayong motorway, the outer ring road linking Ayutthaya and Pattaya, and an expressway linking Rama III Road-Dao Kanong-Kanchanaphisek Road (the western outer ring road).

According to The Bangkok Post, the cabinet in December approved the launch of the TFF, an infrastructure fund to raise cash from the public for the construction of state projects.

He said financial advisers will determine how much the minimum guaranteed return will be.

A guaranteed return on investment of 2 – 3% is expected to be given.

Sepo, however, initially estimated that 50% of toll revenues for the Bangkok-Rayong motorway and Ayutthaya-Pattaya road would be 40 billion baht over the next 30 years.

That would be used for investment returns and the other half would be set aside for maintenance.

TFF units will be offered only to insurance companies, he said, adding that Sepo needs to consider measures to protect investors if the fund is also sold to small investors.

The Vayupak Fund was set up by the Thaksin government to raise funds from the public by investing in 11 stocks. The Finance Ministry is now the fund’s biggest shareholder.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/government-earmarks-first-10-billion-baht-thailand-future-fund-start-three-highway-projects/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-13

Government earmarks funds thats 5 billion for the projects.

Anice little earner for some of us.

"...A guaranteed return on investment of 2 – 3% is expected to be given..."

A definite maybe!

But, what happened to the Bang Pa-in-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bang Yai-Ban Pong-Kanchanaburi motorways that had cabinet approval last year (http://www.thailand-construction.com/three-new-motorways-approved/)?

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

Sounds like good news, however, lets not forget the current highways which are in terrible condition and no one seems to be able to repair them properly, make do and mend patches are not the answer, someone needs to get a grip or the tragic torals of road deaths will just continue, this just makes bad driving worse but its a problem that can be dealt with if there is a will.

highways are essential to move the already

serious and ever increasing traffic volume.

could have been sooner but better later than never.