Thailand approves 4 new special economic zones in EEC

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee has approved the designation of four additional special economic promotion zones to attract investment in target industries. These new zones are located in Chonburi and Rayong provinces.

The approved areas include:

1. ETEK Smart Park (Chonburi): Focusing on modern automotive, smart electronics, aviation, logistics, digital, and comprehensive medical and health industries. 2. New Horizon City (Chonburi): Targeting modern automotive, smart electronics, food processing, aviation, logistics, digital, and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy. 3. Phanat Nikhom (Chonburi): Supporting modern automotive, smart electronics, agriculture, biotechnology, food processing, robotics, digital, aviation, logistics, and medical industries. 4. Modern Automotive Zone (Pluak Daeng, Rayong): Focusing on modern automotive, robotics, digital sectors, and human resource and education development.

The initiative aims to restructure the Thai economy to escape the middle-income trap by shifting focus from low labor costs to high-tech capabilities, supply chain integration, and sustainable development goals.