Investors from China have shown interest in investing in the upgrade of three small airports in Thailand, the Airport Department chief says.
Department director-general Darun Saengchai named the airports in Buri Ram, Phetchabun and Nakhon Ratchasima as the targets for Chinese companies, Post Today reported on Sunday.
The official did not give details on the Chinese investors, only saying that they included Chinese airline firms, real estate developers and state enterprises.
The potential investors will receive support for obtaining low-interest loans from the Chinese government for overseas projects, he added.
Mr Darun said foreign firms have to partner with Thai companies for airport refurbishment projects to be conducted in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP) format.
The airports in the three provinces are managed by the department. They are included in plans to improve facilities and increase capacity of all 28 regional airports to cater for rising air travel.
The official said bids could take place early next year.
"The department will apply to the Transport Ministry by the end of this month for approval on hiring consultancy firms to conduct detailed studies (of the three airports). If it goes as planned, bids could open in early 2019," Post Today quoted him as saying.