SET-listed WHA Corporation Plc (WHA Group) plans to promote a new project for a medical services and device hub at its industrial estates as part of the government's flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.
Nine industrial estates operated by WHA Industrial Development (WHA ID), the group's subsidiary, have been approved to become special industrial zones by the EEC management committee.
The nine estates are located in two EEC provinces -- Chon Buri and Rayong -- spanning 34,434 rai.
WHA ID was previously known as Hemaraj Land and Development.
Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, chairman and group chief executive, said WHA has 10,000 rai of developed plots to serve the 10 targeted S-curve industries, which include medical services and devices.
She said the targeted industries are part of the group's business strategy to attract new investors to all nine industrial estates in the corridor.
"The group is prepared to promote medical services and devices because many foreign companies are interested this sector, so WHA is confident its nine industrial estates can become a hub for the country," said Ms Jareeporn.
Japanese companies are interested in the medical sector, she said.
"The nine industrial estates will play a key role in the development of the S-curve industries in the EEC and they are located 20 kilometres from U-tapao airport, which is expected to become the logistics hub for the EEC," said Ms Jareeporn.
Earlier, WHA promoted two hubs for its industrial estates -- robotics and automation as well as aviation -- to investors.
WHA claims to be Thailand's leader in fully-integrated logistics and industrial facilities solutions. The group's operations consist of four business areas -- logistics, industrial development, utilities and power and digital platforms -- with integrated services to provide customers with turn-key solutions.
The group's main customers are from Japan (38%), while Thai customers represent 19%.
Ms Jareeporn said the group has 700 customers with a total investment of 1 trillion baht.
WHA expects full-year revenue to grow by 25% with land sales of 1,400 rai.
Last year, WHA posted total revenue of 12.4 billion baht, dropping by 35.8% from a year before.
For the EEC scheme, the government aims to approve 21 industrial estates as special industrial zones in three EEC provinces, which include both the government's own industrial estates as well as private industrial parks to serve new investment flow into the corridor over the next five years.