Thailand is set to integrate the eastern province of Prachin Buri into its Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with an aim to develop it as a hub for health and tourism catering to senior citizens.

Announced by Chula Sukmanop, secretary-general of the EEC Committee, during a Chamber of Commerce seminar, the expansion plan will require a royal decree expected next year.

The initiative targets attracting new investments and greening existing industries, particularly in healthcare and tourism.

Key infrastructural projects, demanding 682 billion baht in investments, include a high-speed rail linking major airports, the Laem Chabang Sea Port expansion, the U-Tapao airport upgrade, and finishing Phase Three of the Map Ta Phut Industrial Port.

Since the Eastern Special Development Zone Act in 2018, the EEC has promoted five industry clusters aligned with global trends: medical and healthcare, digital and electronics, automotive, Bio-Circular-Green Economy, and services.

Investment promotion certificates reached a value of 1.73 trillion baht from 2018 till Q3 2023, with China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US as top investors.

In 2023, 251 foreign investors were approved, totaling 45.7 billion baht, marking a significant growth in foreign investment.