Eco-estate in Pattani advanced

Eco-estate in Pattani advanced

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha opens the livestock central market in Pattani's Nong Chik district, which the government aims to promote as a hub for food and agricultural processing industries. photo courtesy of Government House
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha opens the livestock central market in Pattani's Nong Chik district, which the government aims to promote as a hub for food and agricultural processing industries. photo courtesy of Government House

The government is revving up its plan to develop a new eco-industrial estate in the southern province of Pattani as a major hub for food and agricultural processing industries to absorb farm output and serve strong local demand in the Deep South, says Pasu Loharnjun, the permanent industry secretary.

He said the industrial estate is expected to be located on 3,600 rai in Pattani's Nong Chik district, where at least 39 investors have expressed interest.

The move is part of a project to accelerate economic growth in the three southernmost provinces -- Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- which is a co-working project of the Industry Ministry and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC).

"The aim of the eco-industrial estate is to help villagers earn a higher income, which should help tackle the insurgency in the area," said Mr Pasu.

"Some 39 investors from Bangkok and its vicinity are keen to invest there."

Tanaboon Senggai, head of the Pattani Provincial Industrial Office, said the industrial estate is expected to attract new investment of around 13 billion baht.

Local industries also want to move in to the planned estate, such as the Palm Pattani Southern Border Group Co. The company, established in 1994, is expected to increase economic value in the area.

"There hasn't been a big investment in the three southernmost provinces for such a long time as people are fearful of violence and insurgency in the area," said Mr Tanaboon.

The Palm Pattani Southern Border Group Co will be the first one, increasing investor confidence in the region."

The insurgency in the Deep South has seen more than 5,000 people killed over the past decade.

The project to build up the local economy in the Deep South calls for the government to develop other industrial estates to support the local economy in Yala's Betong district and Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok districts after the eco-industrial estate has full factory occupancy, he said.

Somnuek Maneechote, managing director of Palm Pattani, said the company wants to partner with OPG Tech Co to invest in palm processing factories in the eco-industrial estate.

Palm Pattani is the largest palm-crushing company in the area and is a biogas and biomass power producer, producing electricity from the byproducts of the palm-crushing process.

Somprasong Srichai, chief financial officer of OPG Tech Co, said a joint venture with an investment budget of 13 billion baht is being planned to develop a palm-crushing factory in the eco-industrial estate.

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