Bt5Billioin to upgrade the Queen Convention Centre

QUEEN SIRIKIT CENTRE

BT5 BN TO BUILD A LARGER FACILITY

The Finance Ministry plans to invite bids for the private sector to invest Bt5 billion on upgrading the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre into a world-class facility.

The ministry, which owns the property on Ratchadaphisek Road, also wants to expand its capacity, because the current space is too small.

Under the plan, the existing building will be demolished and replaced by one that can accommodate bigger events and house larger crowds, said a top ministry official who asked not to be named.

At present, the centre cannot hold large- scale exhibitions, because it is not designed to house heavy machinery or massive industrial items, he said.

In terms of capacity, the new building will have 105,502 square metres of space, nearly double the current 65,502 square metres.

It will also have 78,000 square metres of parking space, including an underground carpark beneath the main building that can hold 2,246 cars.

The ministry had dropped a previous plan to build a fivestar hotel in the compound, because the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had banned the construction of high-rise buildings within that zone.

The location is designated as part of the city’s “green zone”.

Meanwhile, the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) will return 300 rai of land adjacent to the convention centre to the ministry after it moves to a new site.

The TTM is looking at an industrial park within 200 kilometres of Bangkok where the ministry could also build a nearby cultural centre, art gallery and training centre, said the source.

The existing hospital and public park in the present TTM grounds will not be affected by the move.

The convention- centre upgrade and TTM relocation are pending final approval by Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee and the Cabinet. If approved, private investors will be invited to join the bidding.

The Treasury Department, which has revised the conventioncentre plan, hopes the new facility will draw more global trade fairs and exhibitions.

WICHIT CHAITRONG THE NATION

Old building can’t hold big shows

WICHIT CHAITRONG THE NATION

The Finance Ministry plans to invite bids for the private sector to invest Bt5 billion on upgrading the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre into a world-class facility.

The ministry, which owns the property on Ratchadaphisek Road, also wants to expand its capacity, because the current space is too small.

Under the plan, the existing building will be demolished and replaced by one that can accommodate bigger events and house larger crowds, said a top ministry official who asked not to be named.

At present, the centre cannot hold large- scale exhibitions, because it is not designed to house heavy machinery or massive industrial items, he said.

In terms of capacity, the new building will have 105,502 square metres of space, nearly double the current 65,502 square metres.

It will also have 78,000 square metres of parking space, including an underground carpark beneath the main building that can hold 2,246 cars.

The ministry had dropped a previous plan to build a fivestar hotel in the compound, because the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had banned the construction of high-rise buildings within that zone.

The location is designated as part of the city’s “green zone”.

Meanwhile, the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) will return 300 rai of land adjacent to the convention centre to the ministry after it moves to a new site.

The TTM is looking at an industrial park within 200 kilometres of Bangkok where the ministry could also build a nearby cultural centre, art gallery and training centre, said the source.

The existing hospital and public park in the present TTM grounds will not be affected by the move.

The convention- centre upgrade and TTM relocation are pending final approval by Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee and the Cabinet. If approved, private investors will be invited to join the bidding.

The Treasury Department, which has revised the conventioncentre plan, hopes the new facility will draw more global trade fairs and exhibitions.

var guacct="UA-644504-1"; var urchinTrackerLoading=false; var urchinComplete=false; var urchinTrackerPendingToCallArguments=[]; function pdInitUrchinTracker(){ if(urchinComplete)return; if(!PDUrchinTrackerIsLoaded()){ if(typeof(pdcore)=="undefined"){ setTimeout(pdInitUrchinTracker,50); return; } if(!urchinTrackerLoading){ urchinTrackerLoading=true; window.setTimeout(pdLoadUrchinTracker,300); return; } setTimeout(pdInitUrchinTracker,50); return; } try{urchinTracker();}catch(E){} var arr=urchinTrackerPendingToCallArguments; if(arr && arr.length > 0){ for(var i = 0; i < urchintrackerpendingtocallarguments="[];" urchincomplete="true;" _udn="none" _uacct="guacct;">