The Ministry of Commerce is
joining hands with private organizations and other government agencies in
launching a pilot project to develop Khon Kaen province into an ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) city.
The issue was discussed at
a meeting on trade and investment with neighboring countries and AEC, held on
24 December 2013 at the Centara Hotel and Convention Center Khon Kaen in the
northeastern province.
The meeting was chaired by
Permanent Secretary for Commerce Srirat Rastapana and was also joined by Khon
Kaen Governor Somsak Suwannasucharit, local entrepreneurs, and farmers.
The Permanent Secretary for
Commerce said that Khon Kaen has good potential for development into an AEC
center in northeastern Thailand. For instance, the province is a large economic
city and is located in the central part of the northeastern region. It is the
location of the consulates of the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam, Lao PDR,
and the Republic of Peru.
Khon Kaen serves as a
transport and logistics center, with efficient transport networks. Its
international airport can accommodate up to 32 flights a day. The province will
be included in the upcoming high-speed train project, which will link with
China and Lao PDR.
Khon Kaen also serves as a
convention and tourism center. It is equipped with modern facilities for the
organizing of meetings, seminars at both national and international levels. The
province is recognized as a center for “green industries,” as well. The
Cabinet, during its meeting on 22 February 2012 approved Khon Kaen as the
location for a green industrial estate. Green manufacturing concerns
sustainability and environmentally friendly production.
The meeting believed that
efforts to develop Khon Kaen as an AEC city would be a proactive move toward
the ASEAN Community, which will be in place in 2015. In this regard, the
Ministry of Commerce will enhance the efficiency of trade facilitation in this
province, so that Khon Kaen will serve as an information center to provide
consultation for entrepreneurs and business people in the northeastern region.
Another objective is to add value to Thai products and services.
Public relations campaigns
will be launched through various media channels to promote the image of Khon
Kaen as an AEC city. More international events will be organized in this
province in order to make Khon Kaen better known among ASEAN partners.
Located 445 kilometers from
Bangkok, the province of Khon Kaen has a population of almost 1.77 million. Its
local economy is the second largest in the Northeast, after Nakhon Ratchasima
province. In its provincial development plan, 2014 to 2017, the province has
set a vision to become a major ASEAN city. Investment in Khon Kaen has expanded
steadily each year, especially in agro-industry and food production.
(thailand.prd.go.th)