Another great news for Koh Chang !

1. Trat will join the Eastern Economic Corridor !

In the near future, Koh Chang will join the Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) which initially consisted of 3 Eastern provinces – Rayong, Chonburi and Chachoengsao. Indeed the EEC board, chaired by M. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, just approved in principle the extension of the EEC to Chanthaburi and Trat provinces.

The EEC, initiated early in 2018, is a huge continental scale economic project consisting of huge investments in targeted industries : next-generation cars, smart electronics, hospitals, agriculture and biotechnology, food, robotics for industry, logistics and aviation, bio-fuels and biochemical, digital and medical services. Another area of investment is wellness and eco-tourism. This is where Koh Chang will have a huge role to play in this project, the island being intended as a “model of eco-tourism in Thailand“.

During the next five years, a $50 Billion USD investment is expected by the government in the EEC, mostly through foreign direct investments, facilitated by a special legislation : more than one hundred national laws and regulations will be suspended in EEC to incentive foreign investments and eliminate legal restrictions for foreigners. The legislation about land ownership, work, business activity and lease contract limits, will be relieved to support the EEC projects.

Eastern Economic Corridor

 

2. The High-speed Railway Project will link Trat to Bangkok in less than 2 hours !

Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana stated that the EEC board just approved a new High-speed train project, linking all the provinces of the EEC and thus shortening the distances between the different cities of the economic area. The phase 1 of the project will link Bangkok airports to U-Tapao airport, through Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Si Racha, and Pattaya.

The EEC High-Speed Train project will make Trat 2 hours away from Bangkok

Moreover, Koh Chang’s province – Trat – will be linked to Bangkok through the phase 2 of the project, extending the high-speed way to the East, through Chanthaburi and Trat province, all the way down to Cambodian border. The maximum speed of the train will be 250km per hour, making Trat 2 hours away from Bangkok (against 6/7 hours with current minivans lines).