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Thailand's Ministry hopes to achieve an ambitious target of establishing an "Aeropolis" to handle the maintenance of regional aircraft and upgrade the country aviation's industry to Tier 2 (Design & Build) as well as improve human resource skills in the sector. The Ministry officials say that this incentive could create a THB 10 billion industry and jobs for 7,500, additionally reducing the cost of the annual maintenance for local airlines by THB 6.5 billion over 30 years, Currently, in Thailand 28 factories manu- facture spare parts for aircraft and by 2020 this number could rise to over 40. Aviation is one of the 10 targeted industries the government wants to improve. THAILAND'S INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS Development of the infrastructure is among others, a key ele- ment in the Thailand 4.0 aspirations that will create urban cen- ters with strong skill sets and lucrative industries. Here officials speak of megalopolis and smart cities — all things to be created. To connect those new living areas with the production sites (already built, in construction now, and planned ones) a new and efficient infrastructure is needed. Amata group and Hemaraj (WHA Group) are present in Thailand and in the ASEAN region building logistics parks and industrial estates. Under the incen- tive 4.0, Thailand plans many infrastructural projects which will connect the present and future towns and industrial sites with new motorways, double track rails, high-speed trains, airports, and seaports (see map). This all should lead to "smart industry, smart city, and smart people." THAILAND'S NATIONWIDE AIRPORTS UPGRADE WITH HELP OF PPP PROGRAM Thailand's government approved on Feb. 6 an aviation reform plan that aims to enhance Thailand's status as the region's avia- tion hub and establish a center for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). Under the reform plan, approved by the mini-cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the private sector will be allowed to invest in the airports via the public-private partnership (PPP) program, while foreign compa- nies will be eligible to handle airport management and hold a share of more than 51 percent in the MRO centers. The public- private partnership program will be allowed for the following 11 city airports: Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Phetchabun, Hua Hin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pattani, Betong, Chumphon, and U-Tapao. The 10-year airport development will cover not only the upgrade of the three main international airports but also 36 provincial airports. This action targets the improvement of the country's aviation industry and to make Thailand a key regional aviation hub. This was decided by the mini-cabinet which is the government's strategic national administration committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Under this plan, a total of 39 Thailand airports will be improved to handle an expected 277 million passengers annually within the next 10 years. Over the next 10 years, Don Mueang airport will handle 40 million passengers, up from 30 million now, with the annual pas- senger capacity at Suvarnabhumi airport raised to 90 million from 45 million and U-Tapao to 30 million from 3 million passengers. Suvarnabhumi airport expects annual passenger capacity to rise to 45 million by 2025. AviationPros.com/company/10134757