Congratulations to Assoc. Prof. Dr.  Veeris Ammarapala, the 1^st batch alumnus of the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), who has been appointed as the Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). I would like to share you the story, vision and thoughts from him, Assoc. Prof. Dr.  Veeris Ammarapala or “Pee Nong”.

Assoc. Prof. Dr.  Veeris Ammarapala graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, and obtained a master’s degree in Operations Research from Columbia University, USA, and Doctoral Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA. His area of expertise includes Decision Support Systems, Risk Management, Production and Logistics Management and Maintenance Management.

On March 16, 2021, the Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr.  Veeris Ammarapala as the new governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) which took effect from April 20, 2021.

To meet the industrial estates operators’ demands on a variety of disruptive technology, I will apply the principles of the Internets of Things or IoT, such as, different types of 5G/Sensors Technology and Big Data Management with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to allow IEAT and such operators to examine the operations of plants and those of IEAT in a comprehensive, accurate and efficient manner. I will work to the best of my ability in order to establish the foundation for IEAT to be an agile organization by focusing on building strength-based organization as well as strong relationship with business alliances to enhance the professionalism in establishing the regional industrial estates and generate acceptance from stakeholders in all sectors. As for operational policies, they are divided into 6 major groups as follows:

1. The urgent matter that needs attention is to find approaches to attract more investment in industrial estates. Both marketing and proactive measures will be used by discussing with investors directly. Additionally, communication and public relations to provide information on the potential of industrial estates to both Thai and foreign investors will be carried out in an urgent manner.
2. The significant government policies will be extended in an urgent manner, such as, implementation of the Smart Park project and the Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Phase 3 project, which is a gas transportation industry port developing an important petrochemical industry. Both of these projects are considered key projects in the Eastern Special Development Zone (EEC) in the part of the Special Development Zone (SEZ), which is an economic promotional project in government’s key border areas, especially the industrial estate in the borders that are under IEAT’s responsibility, including Sa Kaeo Industrial Estate, Songkhla Industrial Estate etc. IEAT must expedite the implementation and achievement of attracting investors and creating an appropriate marketing plan. This will not only improve the border area for better economy and employment, but it will be also an important part of an increase in exports across borders.