GDP growth likely hit by Map Ta Phut impasse

BANGKOK, 1 April 2010 (NNT) – The country’s gross domestic product could be lowered by 1.3%, resulting in a loss of 58 billion THB in value due to the protracted Map Ta Phut deadlock, according to a recent projection by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

Speaking at a NIDA seminar on Thursday, Mr Ekkachai Nittayakasetwat, Dean of NIDA’s Faculty of Business Administration, revealed today that the country’s projected gross domestic product growth rate of 3.8% would be achievable if the Map Ta Phut industrial stalemate has been resettled by this year’s end. He noted that the operations of the industrial projects and the GDP during 2010-2011 might also be affected due to the delayed establishment of an independent body comprising environmental and health experts as required by Section 67 of the 2007 constitution.

The Administrative Court earlier issued an injunction for 76 projects in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate to halt functioning for their failure to comply with environmental and health impact assessment requirements as required by the Constitution. 23 projects are presently allowed to resume operation. Four of them have been recently endorsed by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). A total of 49 industrial projects remain suspended by the court’s order.