PUBLIC UTILITIES
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The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)
is a state enterprise and the country's principal producer
of electricity. Over the past few years, efforts to reduce
the use of high-cost imported fuel oil for power generation
by developing substitute domestic resources from natural
gas and lignite have yielded satisfactory results.
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority
((MEA) is responsible for the distribution of electricity
in the Bangkok Metropolitan areas, while the Provincial
Electricity Authority (PEA) handles the distribution to
the rest of the kingdom.
Water supply to the capital city is the
responsibility of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority
(MWA). It has successfully completed the first stage of
a massive filtration and distribution scheme to double the
city's potable water supply.
Key elements of the project were the construction
of an enormous filtration plant capable of eventual expansion
to 5.2 million cublic metres per day production and an underground
network of transmission tunnels. Laser-directed "moles"
were employed to dig and lay 3.86 metre-diametre pipes 20
meters below the ground in the world's first soft-earth
tunneling project, a feat of considerable engineering ingenuity
involving both Thai and foreign contractors.
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GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
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Agricultural Credit. The main concern of economic and social
development has been to make additional short-and long-term
credit funds available of farmers. There are two sources
of institutional credit for agriculture: the publicly-owned
BAAC and the commercial banks. Expansion of agricultural
credit in the past few years has increased substantially.
Increased agricultural lending has resulted fro the Bank
of Thailand's provision that 20 percent of total commercial
bank deposits (up from five percent in 1975) be lent to
farmers directly or through the BAAC. In addition, two percent
of the total is to be lent to the agribusiness sector.
Industrial finance. One means of promoting
industrial activity is to direct funds to further economic
development. At present, major secondary cities in Thailand
are adequately served by private banks. Up to 1975, 60 percent
of the deposits made in the provinces were being channeled
back to Bangkok, a situation which necessitated government
guidelines requiring that at least 60 percent of the deposits
be lent locally. Priorities of the Industrial Finance Corporation
are to support industries which significantly increase the
value-added worth of a commodity, generate employment, use
domestic raw materials, produce export products, or locate
their factories outside of Bangkok.
Industrial services. The technical assistance
and training services provided by the Department of Industrial
Promotion (DIP) serve to promote industrial development.
DIP also has five regional centres in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen,
Songkhla, Chon Buri and Suphan Buri. The training and advisory
services offered coverall aspects of industrial management,
investment and joint-venture, industrial technology and
industrial design.
