BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's investment agency has approved applications for projects worth 79.2 billion baht, or $2.4 billion (1.53 billion pounds), mainly in the automobile industry, it said on Tuesday.
The world's top car makers use Thailand as a regional base for vehicle production and exports.
The approved projects include investment of about 10.4 billion baht on eco-cars, or fuel-efficient cars, by Toyota Motor (T:7203), and an investment of 8.4 billion baht by Suzuki Motor (T:7269), the Board of Investment (BOI) said in a statement.
Honda's Thai unit (T:7267) will invest about 8.2 billion baht, and a joint venture of China's SAIC Motor Corp. (SS:600104) and Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group plans an investment of 7.6 billion baht for eco-car production, it added.
Also approved were a 3.1-billion-baht production expansion plan by Nissan Motor (T:7201), and an ethylene production project by PTT Global Chemical (BK:PTTGC) worth 9.8 billion baht, the agency said.
The authorities have accelerated the approval process after delays caused by months of political unrest that prompted a military coup in May.
(Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)