Mr. Nattapon Nattasomboon, Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) said during the talk session on “Prepare Readiness for the Industrial Operators before Joining the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)” held on Thursday 17th October 2013 at Asia Hotel, Bangkok that currently the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) has improved the process on requesting for factory operation permit (Ror Ngor 4) to facilitate both Thai and foreign entrepreneurs. After the screening committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Industry has been appointed to consider the permit consideration process for some types of factory which could have negative impact to the quality of life and the environment, it was found that the working system of the DIW and the Provincial Industrial Offices started to have the same standards. Examples are that the relevant laws are carefully taken into consideration and time used for permit consideration is shorter and within timeframe of 90 days after the completed evidences have been submitted. Moreover, it is found that at present there is not a complaint on incorrect permit consideration process, unlike in the past where there were a lot of lawsuits and even the court orders to revoke the permits or to close a lot of factories. In addition, for purpose of transparency and facilitation to the entrepreneurs, the DIW has established the permit follow up system via website of the DIW. The applicants for permit can follow up their permit process status and the name of the responsible official at www.diw.go.th and they can also file the complaint in case there is any problem on permit or people who seek benefit from such process at hot line telephone no. 1564.
Mr. Nattapon also added that in order to prepare readiness for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which shall occur soon, the DIW shall place more importance on provision of services to the entrepreneurs by providing recommendation to all of the entrepreneurs about the correct operations on compliance with all relevant laws. DIW shall also prepare the uniform system on standards of documents to be used for consideration process throughout the country, without any charge. The interested entrepreneurs can ask for more information or any recommendation at the Express Service Center on the 1st floor of the DIW Building.
The private sectors positively responded to the new operation guidelines of the DIW. Khun Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Executive Vice President of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said that the process on requesting for the factory operation permit in Thailand is more convenient and quicker than many countries in ASEAN countries, i.e. Vietnam, the Philippines or Indonesia, even though there are many processes or steps required to be taken in Thailand. However, this matter is regarded as normal practice for the country with rapid expansion on industrial sector. Rules and regulations formerly applied since the establishment of the first plant have been improved and developed to pay more attention to the people and the environment. He added that based on his experiences on establishment of the new Honda plant, such additional processes or steps would not have any obstacle for the plant establishment at all if we thoroughly study all processes. On the contrary, these processes shall be more beneficial because they can make the plant live harmoniously with the community and the environment can be more taken care of at the same time. Furthermore, Honda did not have to pay the extra expenses more than the rates specified in the laws. The process for obtaining the permit (Form Ror Ngor. 4) for the new Honda Plant in Prachinburi Province after the decision-making process of Honda has been finalized took less than 60 days.
Khun Kobkarn Wattanawarangkul, Chief Executive Office of Toshiba Thailand Co., Ltd. also has the same opinion. She said that as the rules and regulations change all the time, so the entrepreneurs must study these rules and regulations so that they can correctly comply with the laws. In case of Toshiba, if there is any uncertainty, Toshiba usually ask for recommendation from the Ministry of Industry and it always receives good cooperation from the DIW. The good coordination between the officers of Toshiba and the DIW made Toshiba can obtain the permit less than 90 days.
Khun Sompoch Ahunai, Chief Executive Officer of Energy Absolute Public Co., Ltd. said that many processes on requesting for a factory operation permit of the renewable energy plant are beyond power of the Ministry of Industry, however, if such processes can be passed, the processes concerning the Ministry of Industry can be undertaken conveniently and speedily and within the specified timeframe.
Khun Bunn Kasemsup, Managing Director of SCG Trading Co., Ltd. said that the process on requesting for factory operation permit in Thailand is quicker than many countries in the ASEAN region because SCG took more than 7 years before it can obtain such kind of permit in some countries.
Khun Prayong Hirunyavanich from the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand said that he is very grateful that the Ministry of Industry by the Permanent Secretary and the Director General of the DIW invited the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand to participate in the process for granting a factory operation permit for the purpose of transparency. Currently the Organization and the Ministry of Industry work closely to improve the processes that presently they have been accepted by the private sectors in some certain extent. Nonetheless, more developments are still required to perform on continued basis, so that the DIW can become the model organization on transparency.
In addition, most of the entrepreneurs need the Ministry of Industry to coordinate with other government agencies to facilitate the investors. If their wish can be materialized, it can make both Thai and foreign investors invest in Thailand more than any other countries in ASEAN on sustainable basis.
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