By Phoovasit Phirarhdithsayasak
Digital Economy Promotion Agency of Thailand (DEPA) invited China Report ASEAN – Thailand and Thai-Chinese media to Sri Racha District, Chon Buri Province (East of Thailand) to visit ‘Digital Park Thailand’ unveiling development plan for the country’s first IoT – Internet of Things Institute, one of ‘EEC – Eastern Economic Corridor’megaprojects to drive Thailand’s economic growth and attract foreign and domestic investment in digital industry.
Digital Park Thailand covers a 830-rai area supporting Thailand in playing a vital role as Thailand’s high-speed communication centred internet hub for AEC region. Dr.PichetDurongkaveroj, Minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand said in the event that having Digital Park Thailand, the country can be in the middle of the region and gets the geographical advantage to take up the most digital economy development in the area.
Digital Park Thailand is divided into 3 zones:
1) Digital Innovation and Work Integrated Learning Space
2) Digital investment zone i.e. International Submarine Cable Station, Smart Device, Intelligent Software, IoT and Automation, Data Center, Satellite, New Digital Content, and Data Analytic
3) Living Space comprising of residences, hotels, a shopping mall and a sport complex.
The buildings of all 3 zones follow green building design for efficient and eco-friendly energy consumption, as well.
Digital Park Thailand can increase Thailand’s competitiveness in attracting investments which Digital Economy Promotion Agency of Thailand (DEPA) has encouraged investors and large research institutes to initiate research projects that never existed in Thailand before as well as to transform local manpower into digital platform.
The investors will be offered a government privilege i.e. Smart Visa, an exemption from corporate income tax, an exemption of import duties on machinery, matching grants for investment and research, permission to own land, one-stop service.
Dr.PichetDurongkaveroj, Minister of Digital Economy and Society and Dr.PassakornPhathombutr, Senior Executive Vice President of depa recently took Thai-Chinese media on a trip to Digital Park Thailand, one of Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) clusters in an area of 830 rai in Sri Racha district, Chon Buri province.
Dr.Pichet said that Digital Park Thailand is located on the strategic location of EECd, the mega project announced by the Government to become major development hub of the region. The investment in Eastern Economic Corridor Project (EEC) will enhance 3 airport seamless connection high-speed rail Bangkok-Rayong provinces (Don mueang – Suvarnabhumi – U-Tapao) offering ease of access to CLMV and promote U-Tapao Airport to become region hub for aviation. The project also includes the motorway expansion (Maptaputh) and the double-track railways (Maptaphut station).
Dr.Passakorn stated that Digital Park Thailand is initiated under the collaboration of depa, CAT Telecom Public Company Limited, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) in a 830-rai area to attract foreign and domestic investment in digital industry. Digital Park Thailand will be divided into 3 zones:
1) Digital Innovation and Work Integrated Learning Space
2) Digital investment zone i.e. International Submarine Cable Station, Smart Device, Intelligent Software, IoT and Automation, Data Center, Satellite, New Digital Content และ Data Analytic
3) Living Space comprising of residences, hotels, a shopping mall and a sport complex.
Depa will take 30 Rai, 4% of the park’s total area, to establish Thailand’s first IoT Institute to promote and support research and the development of digital industry as well as to provide digital integrated service by creating cohesive ecosystem collaboration. depa applied concept and advices from international and domestic IoT alliance as strategic promotion for IoT. Major alliance consists of 1) Academic institutes and government agencies 2) Start-up companies 3) Private sectors and 4) Industries.
“The institute’s strength is the generous support to all IoT activities and business. The construction applied Digital Smart Building concept with smart linkage to digital facilities, communication, technology, networking and innovation. The building also follows green building design for efficient and eco-friendly energy consumption,” explained Dr.Passakorn.
IoT Institute consists of 6 area: 1.Open labs 2. IoT Design Centre 3.Office 4.Exhibition 5.Auditorium 6.Common Area. The Open labs’ structure should be finished by the end of 2018. To increase competitiveness in attracting investments, depa encouraged investors and large research institutes to initiate research projects that never existed in Thailand before as well as to transform local manpower into digital platform. Digital Park Thailand also offers a government privilege to the investors i.e. Smart Visa, an exemption from corporate income tax, an exemption of import duties on machinery, matching grants for investment and research, permission to own land and one-stop service.
China Report ASEAN 