EGAT develops wellness business around nine dams nationwide to create added economic value

EGAT joined forces with National Charter and 10 network universities to develop 9 target areas around EGAT dams nationwide, moving toward wellness business and supporting health tourism in hopes of restoring and improving grassroots economy, in response to the objective of the national strategy to transform Thailand into a high-income country.

On June 2, 2023, Mr. Thapana Bunyapravitra, President of Thai Association for Town Planning, Board Member and Secretary of National Charter; Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, Governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT); and 10 network universities, namely Khon Kaen University, Prince of Songkla University, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Suranaree University of Technology, Maejo University, Burapha University, Mae Fah Luang University, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Payap University, and Udon Thani Rajabhat University signed a cooperation agreement to develop medical economics as well as support health, clean energy, and investment in innovation zones and EGAT areas in order to improve the grassroots economy and enhance national competitiveness at the Auditorium, EGAT 50^th Anniversary Building, EGAT Headquarters, Nonthaburi Province.

Mr. Thapana Bunyapravitra, President of Thai Association for Town Planning, Board Member and Secretary of National Charter, revealed that Thailand is one of the six countries in Asia with high medical skills and health services. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) expects that in 2025 the wellness economy group will grow no less than 7 trillion US dollars. Therefore, establishing Thailand as a Wellness Hub will help drive the country’s economy. This cooperation between National Charter and EGAT will raise the standard of EGAT dams and the surrounding community moving toward wellness business in order to become a medical innovation and health promotion zone, a high-value tourism innovation zone, and a high-value industry economy zone. The goal will be achieved by developing a business model of innovation and technology, developing marketing networks, promoting employment and community economy, as well as uniting network universities to provide academic information under a five-year time frame to help improve the grassroots economy in response to the objective of the national strategy to transform Thailand into a high-income county by 2037.

Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, EGAT Governor, added that EGAT has developed its assets, services, and attractions in dam areas, which are social capital or soft power that can be further developed and will have a positive impact by creating high-value economy for the surrounding community and increasing the country’s competitiveness. Therefore, joining the National Charter network is an opportunity to develop EGAT’s dam areas and the surrounding community, moving toward sustainable health business as a whole to become a health economic zone, increase energy efficiency, develop clean energy, support circular economy innovation, as well as develop community services and products. EGAT will put together a connecting integrated master plan in cooperation with National Charter and network universities in each region of Thailand in order to determine specific regional strategic plans and develop the community according to the province. EGAT dams will act as a center of operation connecting to the communities. The project will be piloted in the following nine target areas nationwide.

North: Two locations, namely Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit Province and Bhumibol Dam in Tak Province
South: Two locations, namely Krabi Power Plant in Krabi Province and Rajjaprabha Dam in Surat Thani Province
Northeast: Three locations, namely Ubol Ratana Dam in Khon Kaen Province, Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and Chulabhorn Dam in Chaiyaphum Province
West: Two locations, namely Vajiralongkorn Dam and Srinagarind Dam in Kanchanaburi Province

“EGAT believes this cooperation to improve business in EGAT areas and surrounding community moving toward wellness business is a concrete mechanism that will help build strength, increase economic value, and stimulate grassroots economy. Most importantly, it will raise community quality of life sustainably,” EGAT Governor added.