Japan is prepared to invest in Thailand to establish an industrial estate in Ratchaburi, which is to be modeled after Kitakyushu city in Japan.
Ratchaburi provincial authorities paid a visit to the Japanese city and were welcomed by Kitakyushu Mayor Kenji Kitahachi. The Thai representatives were shown the city’s environmentally friendly designs and industrial waste management.
The city of Kitakyushu (pictured) has drawn attention nationwide for an environmental protection campaign it began in the 1990’s. Japan harnessed the joint efforts of government, private enterprises and local residents to overcome pollution and other environmental problems. It has since dramatically improved the city’s environment.
Japanese investors from Kitakyushu city are hoping to use the city’s environmental prototype to create the industrial estate in Ratchaburi.
Japan has been the top foreign investor in Thailand, investing more than THB 100 billion each year, roughly one third of all foreign investment that comes into Thailand.
Image credit: Tobata, Kitakyushu by Kugel. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.