Siam Cement pledges to cut pollution

The Siam Cement Group (SCG) yesterday pledged Bt21 million to support the Industry Ministry’s Environmental Management System for Small and Medium Enterprises project (EMS for SMEs). After an informal meeting with the company’s executives, Deputy Industry Minister Piyabutr Cholvijarn said the money would be spent on boosting production efficiency in the SME sector, particularly to reduce pollution and waste.

Moreover, he said SCG’s president Kan Trakulhoon also offered financial support for a fund launched by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand to help tackle pollution-sourced sickness in the Map Ta Phut area. However, the amount of SCG’s support for the fund is not yet known.

Meanwhile, Department of Industrial Works director-general Ratchada Singalavanija said the government had approved only Bt5 million to support the EMS for SMEs project. The project will cover 95 operators in 19 industries around the country this year.

"This is the first time that a company has provided such support for us," he said. "SCG has set a good example for other companies to cooperate with the public sector in supporting the country’s industrial development."