The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) was established in 1979, under the Ministry of Industry. Its principal role is to promote the industrial development.
Companies located in industrial estates and ports can receive numerous privileges without applying for BOI status.

In order to meet the needs of the global marketplace and the World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements, the original act was amended and re-enacted in 2007 as the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act (No.4) B.E. 2550.

Currently, there are 46 industrial estates spread across 14 provinces of which 11 are operated by IEAT and 35 are jointly operated with developers. Industrial estates are divided into two zones:
• General Industrial Zone (GIZ) which is designated for industrial and service operations or other activities, beneficial to or associated with industrial and service operations
• IEAT Free Zone which is designated for industrial and commercial operations or other activities, beneficial to or associated with industrial and commercial operations

IEAT established a One Stop Service Center providing a wide range of services from land purchase and rental, factory location suggestions, issuance of certificates, to the development of joint-management industrial estates with IEAT.
The approval process will require approximatively 40 days.

IEAT Incentives

Non-tax incentives are provided to industries situated in both zones and include:
• Permission to own land for carrying out industrial activities
• Permission to bring in foreign technicians, skilled workers, experts and their spouses or dependents;
• Provision of comprehensive services essential for investment, including transportation, warehouses, training centers, and clinics
• Permission to take out or remit foreign currency abroad
• Permission to receive additional privileges from Thailand BOI when applying for investment promotion

Tax incentives are additional privileges given to those industries located in the IEAT Free Zone and include:
• Exemption from import duty, VAT and excise tax on machinery, raw materials, and supplies used in production
• Exemption from export duty, VAT, and excise tax on imported materials for use in production or for commercial operation
• Exemption from export duty, VAT, and excise tax on raw materials, products, and by-products
• Exemption from tax and duty on goods manufactured in an IEAT free zone and sold between operators located in the IEAT free zones.