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situation in Thailand visiting many aviation MRO centers and
manufacturers.
Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) kicked off the year
2017 with a mega seminar "Opportunity Thailand 2017" in
Bangkok welcoming close to 3,000 investors where it pro-
moted investment opportunities in Thailand and shared with
the global community the "Thailand 4.0" model driven by the
value-based economy. At the seminar on Feb. 15, 2017, Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and BOI provided investors with
information about Thailand's latest investment incentives.
According to the Thailand 4.0 model, 10 new target industries
were identified as the "New Engines of Growth" which likely
will transform the country into a regional innovation hub by
use of advanced technology, R&D;, and human resource devel-
opment. Some of the new engines of growth industries were
included in breakout sessions on new S-curve industries, includ-
ing aerospace, automation and robotics, and medical devices,
with key speakers in each respective sector. The aerospace
sector was highlighted with the presentation of the following
companies which are already present in Thailand: TurbineAero
Inc., Rolls-Royce, Senior Aerospace, and C.S.S.
According to Mrs. Hirunya, Thailand performed very well in
terms of investment in 2016; the total investment value by the
end of 2016 was 584 billion baht, an increase of 196 percent
compared to 2015.
The foreign direct investments (FDI) also expanded, with the
investment value of 301 billion baht and the top five countries
THE FORMER
military airport
AT U-Tapao
served the U.S.
Army as B-52
base. Those
structures (huge
hangars, long
runway) are the
ideal base for an
MRO hub offering
the possibility
for further
enlargement.
BELOW: AMT
International
correspondent
Marino Boric
visited the
U-Tapao airport
in mid February
as it was first
presented to the
international
press after the
Thailand 4.0
event.
MARINO BORIC