The Prime Minister used the platform in France to build confidence that Thailand is ready for new investments, promoting the EEC, U-Tapao Airport, and Eastern Aviation City as an ASEAN Aviation Hub and logistics center.
On 31 May 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed that during the visit to the French Republic by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul and his delegation, they met with investors on multiple occasions to present Thailand's potential, finding that the French private sector is interested in Thailand’s aviation industry, aiming to position Thailand as an Aviation Hub and logistics center for the ASEAN region.
The Prime Minister showcased Thailand’s aviation strengths in meetings with Thai ambassadors and consuls general in Europe, discussions with MEDEF International—attended by representatives from over 38 French private companies—and one-on-one talks with leading French firms. The aviation industry, aircraft maintenance and repair (MRO), and advanced logistics were clearly among the sectors attracting significant interest.
Ms. Ratchada stated that Thailand’s strengths lie not only in its geographic location but also in its readiness to support the entire production chain, from U-Tapao Airport, the Eastern Aviation City, rail systems, ports, logistics networks, industrial estates, to a workforce capable of upgrading skills to meet high-tech industry demands.
Regarding the U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City projects under development in the EEC, the target is to accommodate up to 60 million passengers annually. Besides passenger services, it will serve as a ground cargo hub with space for aircraft maintenance centers and a duty-free zone. The total investment is about 218.788 billion baht, making it one of the EEC’s key infrastructure projects.
The government spokesperson added that the French private sector is strong in aviation, aerospace, defense systems, and advanced technology, aligning with Thailand’s direction to elevate the EEC as the region’s future industrial base. “The Prime Minister used the platform in France to assure that Thailand is ready for new investments, with aviation being a key opportunity because Thailand has the location, infrastructure, supply chain, and workforce to develop into an ASEAN hub,” she said.