BANGKOK, June 12 (NNN-Bernama): Rolls-Royce, a major British aero-engine manufacturer has expressed an interest to expand its production facilities to Thailand, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Thailand's Permanent Secretary for Industry Witoon Simachokedee said that Rolls-Royce is now interested in establishing a new manufacturing base for Asean market.

Witoon added that the leading British manufacturer is in the middle of its feasibility study, with an eye fixed on Thailand’s eastern seaboard as its probable manufacturing base.

Witoon said that Rolls-Royce has informed him that, if its plan is realised, a large number of jobs will be created for Thailand and that it will need numerous investment incentives from the Board of Investment of Thailand to go on with the plan.

Rolls-Royce has first entered Asean through Singapore, where it has invested in the research and development sector, with an investment of around 10 billion baht.

The Permanent Secretary for Industry stated that, if Rolls-Royce does come to the country, the investment value will definitely exceed the 10-billion-baht mark recorded in Singapore.

-NNN- BERNAMA