By Watcharapong Thongrung
None of the experts is willing to single out any of the mega-investment and infrastructure projects promised by the parties as better.
The promises of the two main parties - Democrat and Pheu Thai - are not very different. Both are promising mass-transit electric train projects in Bangkok and its vicinities to the provinces and a high-speed train project connecting neighbouring countries. The only difference is their approach to private participation in these projects. Pheu Thai seems to prefer a "turnkey" basis while the Democrats prefer public private participation (PPP). The Democrat approach can lead to higher spending from the government budget.
Pheu Thai has promised to promote the South while the Democrats have vowed to promote the East as a strategic location for the country's transport and logistics hub to facilitate trade and investments. Both are also relying on funding from China, many experts in the industry said.
For those who believe in the Asean Economic Community (AEC) connectivity in 2015, the Democrat policy on logistics development in the East as a hub of marine transport, and promoting Dawei port in Burma as the west gate of Greater mekong Subregion (GMS) South-South Economic Corridor, should be favourable to all.
No more bad pollution is in the country in particular to the Southern part. But, in fact many know it's such risky if the country has no its own breaths even the mega-investment Dawei Port project is led by leading Thai contractor Italian-Thai Development, which was granted the build, operate and transfer concession to develop the project from the Burmese government last November. Moreover, the party's policy to develop Laem Chabang as a Habour City may be unworthy of investment.
" Laem Chabang Port is not located in the world's main shipping lines," Tanit Sorat, vice president of Federation of Thai Industry supported the above argument.
If people believe in transparency and good governance, the Pheu Thai plan for a Land Bridge in the South, including logistics facilities, heavy industry like oil refinery and petrochemical and deep seaport, should be a good choice. Scheduling the bidding and construction process can be speedy as they will be "turnkey" projects - a contract or concession granted as a package, including funds secured, for a long term.
Implementing projects in this manner will give the state a one-time vast amount of money. The economy can also grow rapidly, driven by enormous investments.
Pheu Thai tends to prefer the "turnkey" investment model.
However, many contend that the turnkey model is a source of corruption, hurting public benefits in the future due to less bargaining power of consumers.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/06/20/business/Mega-projects-pose-huge-challenge-for-parties-30158188.html
