A visitor looks at a robot during an industrial showcase. The government is trying to attract new investment from overseas robotics manufacturers.

China-based Siasun Robot & Automation Co hopes to invest in a manufacturing facility for systems integration and automation with the intention of entering Thailand's flagship Eastern Economic Corridor, says Djitt Laowattana, executive adviser of the EEC policy committee.

"Siasun is seeking a land plot of 1,200 rai in one of the three EEC provinces, and it is in talks with two industrial estate developers, Amata Corporation Plc and WHA Corporation, in order to occupy the land," Mr Djitt said.

Siasun's project is called a smart industrial park, which is unrelated to the Smart Park industrial estate in Rayong under management of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.

The company plans to establish an Industry 4.0 platform and transfer many designs from Shenyang.

"It will be on such a large scale for industrial land in the robotics and automation cluster," Mr Djitt said.

He said Siasun wants to aid local manufacturers with adopting and investing in automation systems.

Thailand was chosen by Siasun as its second market in Southeast Asia after entering Singapore, Mr Djitt said.

Founded in 2000, Siasun is a high-tech listed enterprise belonging to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which specifies robotics technology as its core competency to provide intelligent products and services.

It is one of the 10 leading enterprises in the Chinese robotics industry and has established global branches in Hong Kong and Singapore.

In Thailand, the government is promoting adoption of robotics and automation systems under the Industry 4.0 initiative and offering a 50% corporate tax reduction for three years as an incentive.

Mr Djitt said roughly 10 overseas companies in robotics and automation systems are expected to invest in the corridor.

Japan's Nachi Robotics Systems and Australia's Anca Manufacturing Thailand have confirmed plans to invest in Rayong.

The two companies will make robotics systems to serve demand from factories looking to upgrade production.

Nattapol Rangsitpol, director-general of the Office of Industrial Economics, said the robotics and automation cluster will contribute investment value of 300 billion baht by 2021.

The Industry Ministry is studying the market potential of robotics and automation systems in Thailand, expecting total adoption of roughly 6,000 robots per plant.

"With this demand, it could help each manufacturer in the cluster to meet economies of scale," Mr Nattapol said.