Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicWorksandTown&CountryPlanning
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Bangkok Post
Spectacular car fire doused on Sirat Expressway
Firefighters quickly extinguished a car fire on the Sirat Expressway in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon, after a grey Toyota Camry burst into flames. Officials suspect an engine malfunction caused the blaze. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported. The fire broke out at 5.06pm near the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning in Phaya Thai district. The 199 emergency hotline received a call and dispatched fire and rescue crews from Phaya Thai, Dusit and the expressway rescue unit. One fire engine was sent to the scene. Upon arrival, responders found the car engulfed in intense flames. They used fire extinguishers and a water hose to control the fire, which took about 10 minutes to bring under control. The vehicle was destroyed. Authorities initially believe the fire was triggered by an engine failure. The burned-out car was towed from the expressway to prevent further accidents, while investigators work to confirm the exact cause.
Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Thai industrial estate promotions stepped up
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is stepping up efforts to maintain the momentum of investment at its industrial estates, which could decelerate following America's imposition of a 36% tariff on Thai imports. The initiative, which includes a plan to offer more attractive investment incentives for Thai and foreign investors, comes after a survey found operators of 5,000 factories in industrial estates overseen by the IEAT are gripped with concerns over the impact of the Washington's trade policy on their competitiveness and operating costs. The US is a major market of many entrepreneurs in Thailand. "The government wants to help investors reduce costs and facilitate business operations, including waiving fees for using infrastructure," said Sumet Thangprasert, governor of the IEAT. Mr Sumet on Wednesday met with Industry Minister Akanat Promphan to discuss measures aimed at helping entrepreneurs who may be affected by the impact of the US's high tariff rate. New investors, particularly those from China, who initially wished to invest in Thailand may now change their plans and expand their businesses into other countries, said Mr Sumet. Officials are planning to facilitate prospective investors by cutting the lengthy investment application process down to one year from two years, he said. "Speeding up the process should be one method to help stimulate investment in the country which is encountering many challenges, ranging from the sluggish economy to the impact of geopolitical conflicts," said Mr Sumet. The need to boost investment is important for Thailand in order to increase its GDP growth. In the long term, the IEAT will speed up the development of 10,000 rai of industrial land, which requires a budget of over 10 billion baht, in order to serve new investment, said Mr Sumet. The IEAT needs to work with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to adjust city planning regulations in areas set to be developed into new industrial estates. "The adjustment may lead to reductions in land prices. Many investors cannot afford to buy expensive land," said Mr Sumet. The impact of the US's reciprocal tariff, geopolitical conflicts, along with the economic slowdown have caused the IEAT to revise down its land sales target from 10,000 rai to 8,000 rai this year.
Bangkok Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
IEAT push aims to maintain investment momentum
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is stepping up efforts to maintain the momentum of investment at its industrial estates, which could decelerate following America's imposition of a 36% tariff on Thai imports. The initiative, which includes a plan to offer more attractive investment incentives for Thai and foreign investors, comes after a survey found operators of 5,000 factories in industrial estates overseen by the IEAT are gripped with concerns over the impact of the Washington's trade policy on their competitiveness and operating costs. The US is a major market of many entrepreneurs in Thailand. "The government wants to help investors reduce costs and facilitate business operations, including waiving fees for using infrastructure," said Sumet Thangprasert, governor of the IEAT. Mr Sumet on Wednesday met with Industry Minister Akanat Promphan to discuss measures aimed at helping entrepreneurs who may be affected by the impact of the US's high tariff rate. New investors, particularly those from China, who initially wished to invest in Thailand may now change their plans and expand their businesses into other countries, said Mr Sumet. Officials are planning to facilitate prospective investors by cutting the lengthy investment application process down to one year from two years, he said. "Speeding up the process should be one method to help stimulate investment in the country which is encountering many challenges, ranging from the sluggish economy to the impact of geopolitical conflicts," said Mr Sumet. The need to boost investment is important for Thailand in order to increase its GDP growth. In the long term, the IEAT will speed up the development of 10,000 rai of industrial land, which requires a budget of over 10 billion baht, in order to serve new investment, said Mr Sumet. The IEAT needs to work with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to adjust city planning regulations in areas set to be developed into new industrial estates. "The adjustment may lead to reductions in land prices. Many investors cannot afford to buy expensive land," said Mr Sumet. The impact of the US's reciprocal tariff, geopolitical conflicts, along with the economic slowdown have caused the IEAT to revise down its land sales target from 10,000 rai to 8,000 rai this year.
Bangkok Post
30-06-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Bangkok building collapse tied to construction and design flaws
Thai investigators concluded that flaws in the design and construction methods caused the collapse of a partially built Bangkok building that killed at least 89 people during the March 28 earthquake, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. An investigation by a government agency and three universities found that the elevator and stairwell walls — key structures meant to absorb shear force — were improperly designed and built, Ms Paetongtarn said at a press briefing on Monday. She added that the quality of steel, concrete and other materials met required standards, disputing earlier reports that substandard steel bars had been used. The government agency is the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, and the three universities are Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, according to the Bangkok Post. 'The failure stemmed from deficiencies in both the design and construction methods,' she posted on social media platform X. 'In particular, the construction techniques, such as the construction of the elevator shaft wall, did not comply with engineering principles and standards.' The 30-story building intended to house the State Audit Office was the only structure in the capital to collapse following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar. Police have filed criminal charges against a prominent Thai construction tycoon and about a dozen others for negligence resulting in the collapse and loss of life. The building was being constructed by ITD-CREC, a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 Thailand Co. The venture was awarded the 2.14 billion baht contract through competitive bidding in 2020, with construction starting later that year, according to the State Audit Office. Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, the project's main contractor, was among more than a dozen executives, engineers, designers and supervisors who reported to police after a court issued arrest warrants. A fact-finding committee will submit its report to the Department of Special Investigation and Royal Thai Police for further action, Ms Paetongtarn wrote on X.
