The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand rides on the Eastern Economic Corridor scheme to boost land sales. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

The sales volume of industrial estate land in the first half of fiscal 2019 increased by 5.25% year-on-year to 1,339 rai, thanks to the government’s new projects in eastern provinces, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) said on Tuesday.

IEAT said it sold 1,328 rai of plots located in the Eastern Economic Corridor areas and another 11 rai outside the scheme, with a combined price of 8.59 billion baht, from October to March.

IEAT governor Somchint Pilouk said she was confident the sales volume of industrial estate land would reach the targeted 3,500 rai. The government has sped up infrastructure investments in the EEC and the new government will boost investor confidence, she said.

“IEAT expects new investment projects in and outside the EEC would create 1,585 jobs,” she said.

IEAT operates 55 industrial estates in 16 provinces and the Map Ta Phut deep-sea port and six more will be added — the Cosmic Industrial Estate Development project in Rayong, Bo Thong 33 Industrial Estate in Prachinburi and Rojana Industrial Estate at the Laeam Chabang port in Chonburi, World Food Valley Thailand in Ang Thong, CPGC Industrial Estate in Nikhom Pattana and Ban Khai districts of Rayong and Preaksa Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan.

The EEC covers Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao.