Foreign investors pass on 'small potatoes' motorway projects

[Norseman]

BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA)

Foreign investors have paid no attention to investing in construction of two new Thai government motorway projects worth Bt60 billion (US$1.5 billion) because the total required investment is too small to interest them, according to the Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Office.

The office's director-general, Maitree Srinarawat, said here on Sunday that Thailand's construction of additional motorways is part of a number of state-initiated mega-infrastructure projects under the supervision of the Highways Department.

Mr. Maitree said the government may need to implement the project by itself, however, because foreign investors have shown no interest in investing so far.

Not one foreign investor has asked for more information on investing in construction of the proposed motorways linking Bangkok to northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Cha-um in the upper-southern Petchaburi Province since information on the project was released.

He said he thought that foreign investors were indifferent to the project because they viewed the construction of roads need not rely on high technology.

Many also believe that Thailand has the means to build the project itself since it does not require investment at the same high levels as electric train projects, he said.

Regarding progress in the proposed investment in the construction of 10 electric train mass transit routes, Mr. Maitree said many potential foreign investors had sought information on the projects through a website despite uncertainty about the country's political situation.