Industrial Parks to Balance Growth With Environmental Protection
Thailand's Industrial Estate Authority and the Office of Bioeconomy Development have signed a three-year partnership to develop industrial parks that balance economic growth with environmental protection through nature-positive practices an
Sumet Tungsaithong, governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Office of Bioeconomy Development (BEDO) under the framework "Nature Positive: Balanced Industrial Park Development" spanning three years. The partnership aims to drive Thai industry growth while protecting nature and ecosystems sustainably, applying biodiversity and nature-positive principles to industrial park planning, management, and operations. The initiative encourages participation from industry, businesses, the private sector, and communities to advance economic growth alongside nature conservation through knowledge exchange, developing tools and pilot areas for nature-positive industrial practices, and building cross-sector cooperation among government, private industry, academia, communities, and stakeholders.
The agreement represents a significant step for Thai industry toward environmentally friendly development and balance between economic growth and sustainable natural resource management. Thanit Changthavorn, BEDO director, stated this collaboration integrates natural resource considerations into industrial development and management, emphasizing that economic development and environmental care should no longer be viewed as competing choices since industry depends on natural resources and ecosystems. The partnership aims to create "prototypes of industrial parks coexisting harmoniously with nature," transforming biodiversity challenges into opportunities for new sustainable economic models.
