On February 18, 2026, Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee, along with Dr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO), discussed the progress and laid out the development framework for the “EEC Business Center and Smart Livable City” (EECiti) project under the Smart & Sustainable “LIVE-WORK-PLAY” City concept. The project’s aim is to elevate the eastern region into a global economic and tourism hub.
Mr. Pipat followed up on the progress of site preparation to advance the EECiti project, which covers an area of approximately 15,000 rai (2,400 hectares). The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the development of a World-Class Entertainment & Leisure Hub, featuring a master plan to attract investment to develop the area to include a large-scale theme park on par with the world’s leading amusement parks, an international-standard sports complex, and supporting areas for such activities. The goal is to establish the world’s most modern sports and recreation center. Simultaneously, plans are underway to integrate AI technology into management systems—covering tourist services, energy management, and infrastructure—to drive the area toward truly becoming a Net Zero City.
In this regard, Mr. Pipat laid down key policies and guidelines for the EECO to accelerate the project’s development under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This includes the project’s core infrastructure and public utilities, as well as the raw water management system that will supply the EECiti area and other parts of the EEC.
The EECiti project area offers significant advantages in supporting the service industry due to its seamless connection to the country’s main transportation network. The project is located only about 10 kilometers from the High-Speed Rail linking 3 Airports and approximately 15 kilometers from U-Tapao International Airport, making both domestic and international travel and logistics highly convenient.
Regarding the implementation timeframe, the EECO is preparing to push forward public-private joint investments for infrastructure and utilities in the area first, which will be discussed in the next EEC Policy Committee meeting. As for the development of the World-Class Entertainment & Leisure Hub, it will enter the feasibility study process and be opened for investor feedback to prepare an additional PPP model, further attracting investment capital from leading global companies.
