The government's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme will be a game-changer for achieving the goals of Thailand's 20-year strategic plan for 2017-36, says Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana.
He said the EEC will improve the country's industrial sector from stage 2.5-3.0 (a reliance on heavy industry) to 4.0 (utilising innovation and technology).
At a seminar called "Game-Changer: A New Game to Change the Future", Mr Uttama said the government is confident that the S-curve policy can mobilise the industrial sector with targeted industries in the corridor, including next-generation cars; smart electronics; affluent, medical and wellness tourism; agriculture and biotechnology; food.
New S-curve industries planned for the corridor include robotics for industry; logistics and aviation; biofuels and biochemicals; digital; and medical services.
A key purpose of the corridor is to bolster economic fundamentals, beef up GDP in the long run and increase people's income, aiming to spring Thailand from the middle-income trap.
The EEC is an offshoot of the Eastern Seaboard development scheme that began in the early 1980s.
"Today, Thailand is moving forward with the S-curve policy, with new investment expected in the EEC provinces of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong," Mr Uttama said, adding that the government believes the EEC could be as successful as the Eastern Seaboard development.
He said the digital platform is also a game-changer having an impact on Thailand's manufacturing sector in many respects, so the country should be preparing high-skilled labourers to handle disruptive technology.
Mr Uttama said automotive, robotics/automation and biochemicals are particularly disruptive, following global trends.
"We cannot avoid the coming of electrified cars, which will be commercialised in the Thai auto market by 2023," he said. "We have to turn our current automotive industry to serve this trend, as well as improve the electrified supply chain such as the manufacturing of batteries."
Robotics and automation are a new trend in the country, he said, and local manufacturers are interested in improving their manufacturing and dealing with persistent labour shortages.
The biochemical industry is a potential means to increase the value added to agriculture products.
The Industry Ministry is proposing related projects to the cabinet soon so that biochemical investment can kick off this month.