Firms spend Bt380m on SME plans

Meanwhile, the Board of Investment (BoI) reported that net applications for small and medium-sized projects in the first seven months were up 6.3 per cent from the same period last year.

The SME projects will invest less than Bt200 million.

BoI secretary-general Satit Chanjavanakul said the board had granted tax incentives to both companies because it would like to enhance SME competitiveness.

"It is another choice to reduce SMEs' burdens in terms of financial and construction costs and those manufacturers will be provided with good utilities services and environmental management," he said.

ASRB will construct 11 plants in Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate in Chon Buri province with an investment of Bt275 million. ASRB also supervises the Ota Techno Park, which was created to lure potential Japanese SMEs to make investments in Thailand.

Spending by 304 Industrial Park7 will amount to Bt105 million to develop 10 units of one-floor buildings for manufacturing and warehouses in its industrial estate in Prachin Buri province.

Both the development projects will serve the increase in SME investments, particularly in auto parts and electronics.

"Investments related to automotive and electronics tend to grow continually in line with our policy to promote investment in energy-saving vehicles in the country," Satit said.