Thailand to become production base in ASEAN

BANGKOK, June 29 (TNA) - Industry Minister M.R. Pongsvas Svasti says that Thailand is preparing for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, when Thailand intends to become a regional production base of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). M.R. Pongsvas, who is leading a Thai business delegation for an investment roadshow in Japan this week, said in Osaka on Thursday that the goal is backed by Thailand's good supply chains, particularly in the automobile, electronic and agricultural sectors. M.R. Pongsvas acknowledged that Thailand's plans on further developing logistics and double-track rail systems to link with other regional cities and on expanding regional transportation networks to link the Thai North with the Thai South and the Thai East with the Thai West will also boost the Thai economy's potential to become a regional production hub. Besides, according to the industry minister, the Thai and Myanmar governments are jointly developing a deep-sea port in Myanmar Dawei City, which will become another regional gateway to transport cargos through the Indian Ocean, and there will be a land bridge to also link Myanmar's Dawei Port and Thailand's Laem Chabang Port in the eastern Chonburi Province. In addition, Thailand is preparing its National Single Windows system, which helps complete import and export procedures within one day. (TNA)