In an interview with the Phuket Post, where staff reporters met with Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit to inquire about plans and projects for the coming year, the Governor explained that presently, many projects for the island are awaiting approval from the government that will eventually take over the reigns in Bangkok.

“We have many plans for Phuket but we can't do much right now, because as we know all plans and project have to be passed by the government and we also know that we have some waiting to do for the government to be set up,” said the Governor.

“We have had many situations in the recent past where the acts and the laws that are in place in some sections are either obsolete or no longer suitable in light of the changing circumstances, thereby preventing us from making the relevant decisions. Among these laws are those that govern projects that need budgets of more than 1,000 Billion baht. These could either be projects being undertaken by provincial governments or those involving the private sectors and requiring foreign investment.

“The Phuket Provincial has been pushing a number of its own projects forward to the government including those concerning matters of tourism and economic interest. We are eager to resolve the problems that we have right now so that the island can move ahead.

“In the last few months, we have also been studying carefully and meticulously the pros and cons of all the various projects that potential investors have presented to the government,” he continued. “We have hired experts in the various fields to study the cases and the backgrounds of the organisations or individuals that want to invest in Phuket, so that we may be able to make suitable recommendations to the government.”

One of the many projects currently under the magnifying glass, the Governor told the Post, was the idea of the Free Trade Zone for Phuket, where investors from the Middle-East with extensive experience in marine trade and transport have expressed a desire to invest on Phuket. Part of the proposed project is a Duty Fee Trade zone at Ao Ma Kham bay. “We are looking at various factors including the environmental and economical impact on the state. Furthermore, for investors such as these, countries like Dubai and China have the ability to sign long-term contracts for 90 years. At present, in Thailand we are not able to do this. Our contracts are limited to 30 years. As you can see, a lot needs to be done, in many areas.”

There has even been a proposal from investors from South Africa, who would like to set up on Phuket a project on the lines of what they have already done back in South Africa, the Governor informed us. The idea is to take different species of monkeys to be bred on an island, where they would be provided a safe and natural habitat, and tourists could visit them in their natural setting.

About another island, one that grabbed the headlines mid-2007, the proposed Zoran Island project of Gulu Lavani who is looking to build a Super Yacht basin off the coast of Phuket, the Governor informed the Post that the project is currently being scrutinised by various appointed agencies that are studying the its potential environmental impact. “In the light of the current global warming situation, we need to be increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of whatever we do,” he asserted.

Governor Niran encouraged the people of Phuket to express their opinions about various issues and projects, “We have mailboxes set up specifically to get petitions from people. Staff and local representatives in the various Or Bor Jor ,Or Bor Tor, and Tessabaan offices are committed to solving the problems and taking into account the general population's view about the various plans and projects,” he said in conclusion.