The military regime has set up two new committees to accelerate trade and investment with other members of Asean.
The two boards — a committee overseeing preparation for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) and one governing special economic zones — are chaired by National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.
The establishment of special economic zones, mostly along Thailand’s borders with neighbouring countries, is one way to prevent a flood of foreign workers from overwhelming inner cities.
According to NCPO spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalap, Gen Prayuth wants Thailand to develop special economic zones that use raw materials from nearby countries and let foreign labourers
travel across the border to work in the zones.
The National Economic and Social Development Board has hired a consulting firm to conduct a study for setting up special economic zones in 12 provinces in border areas. The results are expected by October.
The private sector previously proposed setting up special economic zones in border areas such as Mae Sot in Tak province; Kanchanaburi province; Mae Sai and Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai; Nakhon Phanom province; Nong Khai province; Sa Kaeo province; and Sadao in Songkhla province.
Mr Yongyuth said the first meeting of the newly appointed AEC committee was scheduled for some time this week. The junta is gauging the readiness of Thailand for regional integration, which is slated for late next year.
The committee’s main duty is setting a strategy for the country’s entry into the single market covering 600 million people in 10 countries.
Because the integration will also deal with politics, security and culture, the NCPO has set up three subcommittees and assigned ACM Prajin Jantong to supervise them.
Members of the committee also include the permanent secretaries of several ministries. Gen Prayuth has ordered them to proceed with any projects already set for Asean members, Mr Yongyuth said.
Other AEC-related issues include the readiness of government agencies, logistics development, establishing road links with neighbouring countries and boosting trade and tourism.
The progress of the National Single Window (NSW) for streamlining imports and exports will also be discussed at the first meeting, as will estimates of labour flows among Asean members once the AEC is up and running.
Mr Yongyuth said some initiatives had faced delays — notably the establishment of the NSW, which involves 16 state agencies — as legislation related to border trade agreements was in limbo for lack of a parliament.