11,000 Local Jobs Offered by Ford

BOI deputy secretary-general Ajarin Pattanapanchai said more investment by Ford Motor Co. in the eastern province of Rayong will provide good opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises producing automotive spare parts as well as boosting business confidence.

Miss Ajarin said the Ford decision to boost its stake in Thailand demonstrates to investors worldwide that the country remains an attractive place for business development and offers opportunities in every field, especially in the industrial sector and automotive spare parts.

President and chief executive Alan Mulally announced that Ford will invest Bt15 billion (US$450 million) in the Rayong industrial estate to build its new sedan factory.

The industrial unit is set to be completed in 2012 and will produce the new 2012 Ford Focus for the Thai market as well as for export to other Asia-Pacific markets.

Ford Asia Pacific and Africa president Joe Hinrichs said production capacity is set at 150,000 units annually for the new factory, and up to 85 per cent of cars manufactured will be for export.

The plant will create 11,000 jobs, of which 2,200 positions will be hired directly by Ford, while another 8,800 will be outsourced via its supplier and dealer networks.

The company is also planning to purchase auto spare parts from domestic producers, worth around Bt26 billion annually.