EEC Approves Four New Investment Zones Worth 25.7 Billion Baht

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, chaired the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee meeting No. 3/2026. The meeting approved the designation of four additional special economic promotion zones to accommodate investment in target industries and generate economic opportunities in the area, adding to the existing 47 promotion zones.

The four projects have a combined initial investment value of approximately 25.664 billion baht, spanning next-generation automotive, electronics, digital, robotics, logistics, medical, and green economy industries.

**Four new investment zones opened, total investment over 25 billion baht:** 1. **E-Tech Smart Park, Chonburi** – Located in Ban Bueng district on over 610 rai, with investment of approximately 19.75 billion baht. Supports next-generation automotive, smart electronics, aviation and logistics, digital, and comprehensive medical industries. Expected to create 3,500–5,500 jobs when fully developed. 2. **New Horizon City, Chonburi** – Located in Si Racha district, with investment of approximately 4 billion baht. Supports target industries and green economy businesses. Expected to create over 1,200 jobs. 3. **Phan Thong District Zone, Chonburi** – Initial investment of 1.669 billion baht. Supports eight industry groups: automotive, electronics, bio-agriculture, food, robotics, digital, logistics, and health. Expected to create approximately 7,750 local jobs. 4. **Next-Generation Automotive Zone, Pluak Daeng, Rayong** – Approximately 70 rai with initial investment of 245 million baht. Aims to support next-generation automotive, robotics, and digital industries, while developing personnel to upgrade workforce skills and create new supply chains for the Thai automotive industry.

**Targeting 75 billion baht in privileged projects within six months, accelerating mega-projects:** The meeting also approved the EEC operational plan from October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, setting a target of 75 billion baht in project value receiving EEC privileges. It aims to accelerate readiness of key projects including U-Tapao Airport, the new EECi city, the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center, and the One Stop Service system for investors.

These targets are part of the overall EEC plan for 2023–2027, which sets goals of 500 billion baht in cumulative actual investment, 6.3% growth in the combined gross provincial product of the three EEC provinces, and a 2% increase in the Human Achievement Index, ensuring investment generates continuous impact on employment, income, and quality of life.

**AI deployed to verify construction plans, cutting review time to around 5 hours:** The EEC plans to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) to verify construction plans through the One Stop Service system. After testing, the system can verify complex plans within approximately 5 hours, reducing review time and enabling investment projects to commence more quickly.

Simultaneously, Anutin instructed the EEC and the Board of Investment (BOI) to collaborate more closely to reduce discrepancies in conditions and procedures between agencies, providing seamless services to investors — particularly in AI, Big Tech, digital infrastructure, and precision industries that are trending toward establishing manufacturing bases in the area.

**Opening investment zones must go hand-in-hand with strict environmental controls:** Anutin emphasized...