Four mega-infrastructure development projects, worth a combined 160 billion baht, will be developed this year under the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, says the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo).
The four mega-infrastructure development projects are considered projects of high priority, said Pantip Sripimol, the Sepo's director-general
The projects are the MRT's Purple Line running from Tao Poon to Rat Burana (124.8 billion baht); the roadside accommodation development and management project on the motorway between Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Ratchasima (1.6 billion baht); the roadside accommodation development and management project on the intercity highway between Bang Yai and Kanchanaburi (1.5 billion baht); and the Phuket mass transit system phase 1 from Phuket International Airport to Ha Yaek Chalong (35.2 billion baht).
Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow chaired yesterday's meeting of the PPP committee.
The PPP committee also approved revising the public-private joint venture project for 2020-27, said Mrs Pantip.
"The PPP partnerships will also reduce investment constraints from the fiscal budget and government loans as well as enhance efficiency." — Pantip Sripimol, Director-general, Sepo
There were 92 projects in the pipeline worth a combined 1.09 trillion baht, but the revision has reduced the number of projects to 77 from nine ministries, with a combined value of 1 trillion baht, she said.
Reuters reported last year that Thailand planned PPP projects worth 1.09 trillion baht during 2020-27 in an attempt to revive the struggling economy amid the pandemic.
The 92-project plan included 18 high-priority infrastructure projects worth 472 billion baht, Reuters reported, citing the Sepo's statement.
Some projects are not required to invest through a PPP partnership, while others have switched to a procurement arrangement instead, said Mrs Pantip.
Under the 77 projects, there are 20 high priority PPP projects worth a combined 503.2 billion baht.
Projects developed and invested in under the PPP partnership will entice the private sector's investment incentive, she said.
The PPP partnerships will also reduce investment constraints from the fiscal budget and government loans as well as enhance efficiency of providing infrastructures and public services to the general public through the knowledge and expertise from the private sector's innovations, she added.
The government has promoted investment to spur long-term economic growth as the economy is heavily reliant on global demand and exports have been weak.