BANGKOK, 22 April 2015 – The Industry Minister has lauded the ministry’s six-month performance, following the successful execution of its plans and solving private sector complaints.
Industry Minister Chakramon Phasukavanich said that most private operators expressed their satisfaction with the ministry’s performance between 12 Sep 2014 and 12 Mar 2015.
Several official procedures have been streamlined and relaxed, generating 570 billion baht in investment capital and creating 100,000 new jobs. The ministry has forecast the investment value of the industrial sector will reach one billion baht by the end of 2015.
These eased procedures mostly involved issuances of different types of approvals, aimed at facilitating business operators and driving economic growth.
For example, the approval period for factory licenses was shortened from 90 days to 30 days. Consequently, 2,528 new factories have been approved since this administration came into power.
Approval periods were also shortened for mining leases and exclusive prospecting licenses, the Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) certificate, and the Land Use and Operation Permit for industrial estates. During the six-month period, the ministry granted mine exploration licenses for 188 plots, 2,873 TIS certificates, and 6,000 permits for industrial estates.
The ministry also emphasized improved industrial waste management, which has become a national agenda. It has set a goal of properly disposing 1.5 million tonnes of the waste for a total of three million tonnes in five years. Illegal dumping will be prosecuted with a harsher punishment of up to two years in prison and/or a fine of 200,000 baht.
As for the next six months, the ministry has planned to launch another six projects, such as the establishment of a 900-rai Tire Test Center, with an initial budget of 2.850 billion baht. Officials are currently conducting a site survey, shortlisting Sanam Chai Khet district in Chachoengsao Province.
