Inside story reveals Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul takes direct control of the EEC after discussions with Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, who agreed to let the Prime Minister oversee it personally. The goal is for Anutin to lead key projects and attract foreign investment. This move is unrelated to disputes over amending the 3-airport high-speed rail contract.
On 17 June 2026, a government source from the Government House reported that following two orders acknowledged by the Cabinet involving the Prime Minister's directive to revoke the assignment of Pipat Ratchakitprakarn Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, who had supervised the Office of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EEPC) or Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC) and to cancel his chairmanship of the Eastern Special Economic Development Zone Committee (EEC Board), the decision stemmed from discussions between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Pipat last week. The Prime Minister decided to personally take full oversight of the EEC project, positioning himself as the lead promoter of Thailand’s projects to foreign investors, using the EEC as a pilot project presented with a fresh perspective.
The Prime Minister aims for the EEC to become a global food security hub and a center for data center investments, requiring coordination among multiple agencies. He therefore deemed it necessary to bring EEC management under his direct supervision. The focus on food security is due to the region's strengths in livestock, fisheries, agriculture, fruit, and horticulture, critical sectors globally and a strong pull factor for massive investment into the EEC area.
The government has concluded that attracting investment in the EEC cannot rely on traditional heavy industries due to high costs and limitations in electricity and water supply. Since data centers consume very high electricity, the government established a new electricity rate for category 9 users, which is higher than other user categories.
The source also stated that "The Prime Minister taking back direct control of EEC is not due to any conflict between him and Pipat. Pipat himself proposed this, noting ongoing clashes between the EEC Office and the Board of Investment, which he found undesirable. He suggested the Prime Minister oversee the EEC directly. This move is unrelated to Pipat's disagreement over amending the 3-airport high-speed rail contract, as the Prime Minister himself ordered not to amend that contract and expressed no intention to take risks on it. Regarding the Disneyland project Pipat wants in the EEC, the Prime Minister questioned when it would proceed, noting there has been no study yet on its return on investment or viability."