Thailand plans to develop the Southern Economic Corridor
From August 20 to 21, Thailand’s cabinet meeting was held in Chumphon, and it was decided to promote the "Southern Economic Corridor-SEC" project, following the investment and development model of the Eastern Economic Corridor. The four provinces of Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat are included in the key development zones, first to strengthen investment in transportation, to provide investors with the highest promotion and encouragement of investment preferential qualifications, and to create prime locations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean economic hubs.
Deputy Prime Minister Song Qi of the Southern Cabinet Meeting revealed that he had accepted the economic and social development strategy of the 11 upper governments in the south, and proposed the development concept of the "Southern Economic Corridor" for the first time, copying the successful development model of the Eastern Economic Corridor EEC, enabling Ranong, The four provinces of Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat have become the hub land bridge connecting the Pacific Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean, and have become the development center of the "Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Cooperation Initiative-BIMSTEC", led by the government. Private enterprises have invested in intensive industries and transportation facilities in the four governments to develop seamless connections between land transportation, sea transportation and air transportation.
Song Qi said that the government hopes that the Southern Economic Corridor SEC will become a new engine for Thailand's rapid economic development. Previously, the government's increased investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor EEC has driven the national production economic index GDP to increase by 4.8% in the first half of this year. In the next 6-7 months, the government will step up investment in infrastructure construction in the upper four provinces of the south, and vigorously develop tourism and industrial industries. The tourism and industrial development potential of the upper southern region is no less than that of the Eastern Economic Corridor. For example, Hua Hin, Phetchaburi, Chumphon, Songkhla and other places are all tourist attractions, and at the same time, the raw material resources for industrial production are very abundant.
Song Qi said that the government's goal is to develop the Southern Economic Corridor to stimulate economic growth in the southern provinces, and there is still room for investment in raw materials in these provinces, such as rubber and palm, which can also create value-added products.
Song Qi pointed out that due to the decline in rubber prices in recent years, the economic situation in the southern region is not warm. "The government hopes that the new infrastructure projects can create a new economic zone for the region. The Bangkok-Hua Hin high-speed rail line will be extended to Chumphon and Surat Thani areas. In addition, the Ministry of Transport has begun to expand Project feasibility study and environmental impact assessment."
Transport Minister Akong revealed that the Ministry of Transport will promote 28 transport infrastructure development and construction projects in the upper southern provinces, involving an investment of up to 128 billion baht, of which 43 billion baht will be land transportation projects and 628 million baht for terminal construction. Projects, airport and air transportation projects worth 3.338 billion baht, and rail transportation projects worth 83.378 billion baht, including the construction of a new double-track railway from Chumphon to Ranong, which will later be extended to Surat Thani and Songkhla , Hat Yai City and Padang Besar County, with a total length of 158 kilometers; and the construction of a double track railway from Phang Nga to Krabi, with a total length of 314 kilometers. The railway line connects the Gulf of Thailand with the deep-water wharf in the Andaman Sea to form rail transit. Land bridge.
The Ministry of Communications will also build the southern intercity expressway, first from Nakhon Pathom to Phetchaburi Province (completed in 2021), and then to Chumphon and Songkhla (2022-2026), and then continue. Extending from Songkhla to Taogong Mansion (2027-2031). As for the deep-water terminal project, the capacity will be increased from the current annual throughput of 7,000 containers to 500,000 containers.
In the next few years, the Ministry of Transport will also focus on the construction, development and expansion of three airports in the south, including Ranong, Chumphon and Suratthani airports, so that the aircraft’s take-off and landing runway will be extended from the current 2,300 meters to 3,000 meters, which can be accepted by Boeing. The 747 large passenger plane took off and landed, and the terminal building was expanded. At present, the airport passenger traffic of these three provinces is growing at an annual rate of 30%, and it will soon reach full capacity. At present, the feasibility study of the Bangkok-Hua Hin route with a total length of 211 kilometers and a value of 95 billion baht (approximately RMB 19.5 billion) has been completed.
Song Qi said that the government intends to plan a high-speed rail project that will connect the northern high-speed rail line, the eastern economic corridor, the Thai Riviera project and other areas in the south. At the same time, the dual-track railway network from Chumphon to Ranong will also develop with the upgrade of the expressway. Song Qi said that Chumphon can be used as a fruit logistics center, and Wanlun can be conceived as a bio-economic center. In addition, the port of Ranong can pass to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Deputy Prime Minister Song Qi introduced that the development of the Southern Economic Corridor can promote the development of luxury tourism projects. It is reported that on March 6, the Thai Cabinet approved the Royal Coast (Royal Coast) project around Hua Hin, which is part of the Thai government's 20-year development plan, and the development plan will continue until 2020.
It is reported that the Thai government plans to carry out high-end tourism activities in the western coastal provinces, hoping to increase the income of the region through these activities. In addition to this project, another 45 projects have also been approved. Of the 2019 budget for these 45 projects, 170 million baht (approximately RMB 34.8 million) will be used for community tourism projects.
Box: Ranong
Ranong Province, also known as Ranong Province (Ranong Province), is located on the Andaman Seafront, to the west is Kawthaung in the Terindayi Province of Myanmar, and east to south are Thailand’s Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang Nga. . Ranong Province is the most sparsely populated province in Thailand. Eighty percent of the ground is uninhabited forest areas. In the past, most people were engaged in tin mining, and the modern population participated in porcelain burning, fishing, rubber and walnut cultivation. . Ranong Province is also a tourist attraction. Travelers can enjoy the quiet and fresh farming time here, get close to nature, and stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a natural ecological circle reserve of 303.09 square kilometers, which is mainly used to protect the red growing in the sea. Metasequoia forest, beautiful scenery, pleasant scenery, people who like natural scenery should not miss it.