Recently, the office of the NESDB, the United State Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Thai Airways International Plc. jointly held an international symposium on "Thailand's Global TransPark: Positioning Thailand as Air Transport Hub for 21st Century Global Business" at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok.
Presiding over the opening of the symposium, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai delivered an address that the Global TransPark or GTP will place Thailand to become a regional aviation hub, thereby making full utilization of Thailand's geographical advantage. Moreover, the GTP will strengthen its competitiveness and capacity for the world business in which air transportation would be a major role.
To position Thailand in the 21st century, the government has upgraded and launched a new generation of infrastructure development in the Eastern Seaboard zone. The area is Thailand's industrial heartland where possesses all the necessary ingredients to become the national economic base in the future. Hence, the former naval air base about 20,000 rai, called the U Taphao air-base in Chon Buri province, has been chosen for being an advanced industrial air cargo complex -- the GTP which was suggested by world experts, disclosed Prime Minister.
After the opening ceremony, the consulting team presented the GTP master plan in each sector. In this respect, Former NESDB Secretary-General Dr.Phisit Pakkasem, chairman of the Global TransPark Planning Sub-committee, under the Eastern Seaboard Development committee, summarized the master plan, as follows:
1) Investmetn Plan at U Taphao
Outcomes of the GTP study pointed out that private entrepreneurs should be attracted to operate the project as a joint-venture. In this regard, government will develop other fundamental infrastructures such as roads, office buildings, comunication networks and air cargo, with a budget of Bt 1,000 million. Private sectors will be encouraged to invest in air cargo industrial complex construction for serving industries related with airfreight business. The industrial complex will be built on the former naval air base about 20,000 rai at U Taphao in Chon Buri province.
2) The CTP Business and Market Plan
Outcomes of the master plan showed that private entrepreneurs should be assured to play a significant role for its business. Moreover, it is estimated that trends of air Freight services at U Taphao airport in the next decade, as well as potentials of worldwide trade will enter to the new era of industrial commerce. Just-In-Time or JIT manufacturing, international express market, and delivery will predominate. In this respect, U Taphao airport will be upgraded to be the completed global air cargo-industrial complex, while the existing Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang) will be developed as an international air port center.
to develop the GTP industrial complex, an area in U Taphao and its surroundings was mapped out, namely; internal area, belonging to the Royal Thai Navy, and external area, upgraded by private sectors or a jointventure with the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.
3) The Organizational Framework
U Taphao airport is currently a predominantly military airfield, operated by the Royal Thai Navy, so the Navy must be a key participant in the U Taphao organizational entity. Furthermore, the GTP management should not conflict with either airport or military operations. The airport itself should be driven by a new legally formed U Taphao Airport Authority. To develop the GTP industrial complex in the U Taphao eastern area, private agencies will be attracted to upgrade leased land and buildings, GTP marketing and administration as well as other developments. To accomplish this GTP implementation, an interim implementing committee or the government will designate criteria and process of GTP investment for liberalized competitiveness.
4) Other Appropriate measurements
The Customs Department was assigned to improve customs clearance procedure to enable quick and efficient movement, and to get cargo in and out of the airport at the world-class speed. In addition, the government has to speed up bilateral agreement, in particular, with the USA, on "the Seventh freedom rights" and other "open skies" policies so as to reduce an obstacle and to manage hub operation for cargo aircraft.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 13, No.2: February 1998--
Presiding over the opening of the symposium, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai delivered an address that the Global TransPark or GTP will place Thailand to become a regional aviation hub, thereby making full utilization of Thailand's geographical advantage. Moreover, the GTP will strengthen its competitiveness and capacity for the world business in which air transportation would be a major role.
To position Thailand in the 21st century, the government has upgraded and launched a new generation of infrastructure development in the Eastern Seaboard zone. The area is Thailand's industrial heartland where possesses all the necessary ingredients to become the national economic base in the future. Hence, the former naval air base about 20,000 rai, called the U Taphao air-base in Chon Buri province, has been chosen for being an advanced industrial air cargo complex -- the GTP which was suggested by world experts, disclosed Prime Minister.
After the opening ceremony, the consulting team presented the GTP master plan in each sector. In this respect, Former NESDB Secretary-General Dr.Phisit Pakkasem, chairman of the Global TransPark Planning Sub-committee, under the Eastern Seaboard Development committee, summarized the master plan, as follows:
1) Investmetn Plan at U Taphao
Outcomes of the GTP study pointed out that private entrepreneurs should be attracted to operate the project as a joint-venture. In this regard, government will develop other fundamental infrastructures such as roads, office buildings, comunication networks and air cargo, with a budget of Bt 1,000 million. Private sectors will be encouraged to invest in air cargo industrial complex construction for serving industries related with airfreight business. The industrial complex will be built on the former naval air base about 20,000 rai at U Taphao in Chon Buri province.
2) The CTP Business and Market Plan
Outcomes of the master plan showed that private entrepreneurs should be assured to play a significant role for its business. Moreover, it is estimated that trends of air Freight services at U Taphao airport in the next decade, as well as potentials of worldwide trade will enter to the new era of industrial commerce. Just-In-Time or JIT manufacturing, international express market, and delivery will predominate. In this respect, U Taphao airport will be upgraded to be the completed global air cargo-industrial complex, while the existing Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang) will be developed as an international air port center.
to develop the GTP industrial complex, an area in U Taphao and its surroundings was mapped out, namely; internal area, belonging to the Royal Thai Navy, and external area, upgraded by private sectors or a jointventure with the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.
3) The Organizational Framework
U Taphao airport is currently a predominantly military airfield, operated by the Royal Thai Navy, so the Navy must be a key participant in the U Taphao organizational entity. Furthermore, the GTP management should not conflict with either airport or military operations. The airport itself should be driven by a new legally formed U Taphao Airport Authority. To develop the GTP industrial complex in the U Taphao eastern area, private agencies will be attracted to upgrade leased land and buildings, GTP marketing and administration as well as other developments. To accomplish this GTP implementation, an interim implementing committee or the government will designate criteria and process of GTP investment for liberalized competitiveness.
4) Other Appropriate measurements
The Customs Department was assigned to improve customs clearance procedure to enable quick and efficient movement, and to get cargo in and out of the airport at the world-class speed. In addition, the government has to speed up bilateral agreement, in particular, with the USA, on "the Seventh freedom rights" and other "open skies" policies so as to reduce an obstacle and to manage hub operation for cargo aircraft.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 13, No.2: February 1998--