Singapore – A Thailand-based developer and a Singapore-based consultancy signed a memorandum of understanding ( MOU) on Thursday to jointly create a food safety integrated manufacturing zone in Thailand.

The joint project will see the Petch Thai Patana Company Limited of Thailand and Singapore’s FoodNet Consultants Group of Companies developing up to 162 hectares (1.6 square km) of land in Petchaburi, which is about 150 km away from Bangkok and less than 50 km away from the beach resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am.

When the food safety integrated manufacturing zone is fully built, about 70 percent of it will be manufacturing zones, with the rest including a distribution and logistics zone, a wholesale center and an administrative and housing zone.

The development will be carried out in four phases, with an estimated investment of 10 million Singapore dollars (8 million U. S. dollars) for the first phase, which will see the development of 16 hectares of land into a manufacturing zone.

FoodNet Consultants Group of Companies said that food security and safety has been a concern in the region and that Singapore’s high standard of food safety requirements is recognized. It also cited the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual global food security index to say that Singapore is currently ranked fifth globally in terms of food safety.

Separately, Singapore companies and organizations are involved in the development of a food industry park in China’s northeastern province of Jilin. Source: Xinhua