The government expects the amendment of the public-private partnership (PPP) law will become effective early next year, which will affect tollway and motorway investments, part of the planned infrastructure projects worth 2 trillion baht.

The draft is being read in the Senate now. Once the law takes effect, the government expects public-private ventures will accelerate, proceeding with construction after only 10-12 months instead of 20-30 months, said Areepong Bhoocha-oom, the finance permanent secretary.

Projects worth more than 1 billion baht are subject to the present law, meaning they must go through consideration by the entire cabinet.

The ministry will establish a venture fund worth 2 billion baht to be used as seed money for investment projects. Private firms can borrow money from the fund to conduct a feasibility study, but are required to pay back the money when they profit from projects.

Mr Areepong said appropriate projects for the PPP criteria are those with quick investment return such as tollways and motorways, as well as logistics projects. But high-speed train projects have a longer return on investment and require soft loans from abroad, which is inappropriate for the PPP criteria.

Previously, the Finance Ministry expected to spend 400 billion baht or 20% of its infrastructure budget on PPP projects over the next seven years.

Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan said Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam urged Thailand to open more checkpoints and construct roads linking Mukdahan, Savannakhet and Danang.

Mr Chatchart said logistics projects will be included in the 2 trillion baht worth of infrastructure development planned for the next seven years.

"China and Japan will have teams will come to Thailand next week to consult on high-speed train projects, with China keen on a Kunming-Laos-Thailand route, as well as a link to Dawei in Myanmar," he said.

Related search: PPP, public private partnership, infrastructure