A/HRC/41/43/Add.3 14. EIA consultants are subject to quality control, a code of ethics and penalties. Complaints about their misconduct will be reviewed by the Expert Committee for Granting EIA Consultation License. In case of any error or fraud, the Committee has the power to suspend or revoke the license in accordance with the Ministerial Regulation No.2 B.E. 2527 (1984). 15. A draft Regulation of the Prime Minister’s Office on SEA is being developed. In the meantime, the SEA Guidelines have been implemented in pilot projects in Rayong Province and will also be used in the development of the Smart City in the Eastern Economic Corridor. 16. As explained to the Working Group during its visit, the NCPO Order 9/2016 was applied only to urgent government projects relating to transportation, hospitals, irrigation, disaster prevention and housing. It aimed to speed up projects by allowing the government agencies in charge of the project to seek Cabinet approval of a potential private contractor in parallel to the EIA process. However, it did not allow the responsible agencies to conclude a contract prior to the approval of the EIA. The EIA must also be conducted in accordance with the Enhancement and Conservation of the National Environmental Quality Act. Special economic zones and the Eastern Economic Corridor (Paras. 22-27) 17. Thailand’s Special economic zones (SEZs) are located in 10 provinces while the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) covers areas in 3 Eastern provinces. Investors in the SEZs and EEC are offered tax and non-tax incentives. Existing laws related to the management of labour, environment and natural resources, however, continue to apply. In the case of the SEZs, State-owned lands have been designated for rental and development without land expropriation. For the EEC, if land expropriation is necessary, the 2018 Eastern Special Development Zone Act is strictly applied, that is, the Eastern Special Development Zone Policy Committee shall appoint an ad hoc committee to conduct a feasibility study of the area, financial viability, as well as impacts and guidelines or measures for prevention, rectification or remedy of such impacts and the economic and social values for the local community and the government. Any expropriation will be compensated in accordance with the law. 18. The development of SEZs and the EEC is in line with the 20-year National Strategy and the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan, which give importance to balanced development and improvement of the people’s quality of life. Thai investment abroad (Paras. 28-31) 19. The Thai listed companies, including those mentioned in paragraphs 8-9, have taken the lead in the region on sustainability and responsible business conduct. The SET’s Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) list, SETTHSI Index, SET Sustainability Awards and its continued support for listed firms to become constituents of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are key to strengthening the Thai capital market and achieving sustainable growth at home and abroad. Currently, 19 Thai companies -- the highest number in ASEAN -- are members of DJSI in collaboration with RobecoSAM. 20. The draft National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights has designated ‘Cross-border investment and multi-national enterprises’ as one of the four priority areas, along with ‘Labour’, ‘Land, the Environment and Natural Resources’, and ‘Human Rights Defenders’. 21. Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General have played a significant role in engaging with Thai investors and businesses operating overseas and promoting responsible business conduct and respect for human rights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has included relevant materials in the training of its diplomats and trade officials and is in the process of developing a ‘Business and Human Rights’ manual for their use. 4