Rojana eyes Cambodia zone

Rojana eyes Cambodia zone

SET-listed Rojana Industrial Park Plc (ROJNA) will build an industrial park in Cambodia to tap growing investment in the neighbouring country expected after formation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at year-end.

Rojana is conducting a feasibility study into the project and will soon choose between Stung Bot in Banteay Meanchey province or the planned Poipet O'Neang Special Economic Zone Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as the location, said Khajonsak Mahakunnawan, an adviser to the company.

Both proposed locations are on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The feasibility study is due to be finished by year-end.

Rojana expects the Thai and Cambodian economies will grow in parallel.

This is expected to attract investment in both the planned SEZ in Thailand's Sa Kaeo province and Poipet O'Neang SEZ in Cambodia.

Mr Khajonsak said Rojana would develop more industrial estates in nearby countries to tap rising economic growth stemming from the imminent AEC.

Rojana has already partnered with Italian-Thai Development Plc to build the industrial zone at Myanmar's Dawei SEZ.

"The company wants to expand in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam due to these countries' high growth potential," Mr Khajonsak said.

"To that end, we plan to develop the land and build the infrastructure ahead of the foreign investment expected there."

He said Rojana was seeking local partners for the Cambodian investment.

It plans to buy more than 1,000 rai to develop into an industrial zone that will serve several sectors including garments and textiles, agricultural processing and electronics.

"We expect land in Cambodia will remain cheap, say 3-5 million baht a rai, making our ready-to-invest land not too expensive in the eyes of foreigners wanting to enter Cambodia," Mr Khajonsak said.

In Thailand, Rojana has developed 1,000 rai into two industrial zones in Chon Buri as well as the province's Laem Chabang deep-sea port.

It also owns a 2,000-rai industrial park in Prachin Buri and another one covering 1,000 rai in Ayutthaya.

ROJNA shares closed yesterday on the SET at 5.80 baht, up five satang, in trade worth 2.11 million baht.

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