Aiming to Establish a New Landmark for Public Benefit and as a Museum for the People.

On May 9, 2023, Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas, Chairman of the BTS Group and Rabbit Holdings Public Company Limited, along with Mr. Surapong Piyachote, President of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organization, held a ceremony to hand over the "Kanchanaburi Thai Paper Mill” in Kanchanaburi Province. The event was attended by Lieutenant Thotsaphon Chaikomin, Governor of Kanchanaburi Province, and executives from BTS Group and Rabbit Holdings Public Company Limited, including Mr. Surapong Laoha-Unya, Mr. Kong Chi Keung, Mr. Chaiwat Asavintarangkoon, Ms. Soraya Satiangoset, as well as executives from the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organization, including Mr. Atthawit Rakjumroon, Mr. Pisit Kanchanapinyo, Vice President of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organization, Mr. Charan Yingphinyoh, President of the Council of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organization, and Mr. Anan Dissiri, Secretary of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organization. In this project, Rabbit Holdings Public Company Limited, a subsidiary of the BTS Group, acquired the Kanchanaburi Thai Paper Mill and intends to donate it to the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organization for public use and to establish a museum for the community. The building will also serve as a conservation landmark for the province, providing significant benefits to the community.

For this initiative, the BTS Group recognizes the importance of historical value and cultural heritage. Therefore, the Group aims to preserve art, culture, and historical buildings to maintain and pass on Thailand's cultural legacy to future generations. Previously, the group allocated a budget of 5 billion baht to renovate three historically significant buildings. These include “The Custom House” (Rong Pasee Roi Chak Sam), a building over 130 years old, which has been restored and converted into a hotel with a rating of no less than 5 stars. This landmark has long been a significant part of the community along the Chao Phraya River. Additionally, the budget was invested in the "U Chiang Mai Hotel," which received the Outstanding Architectural Preservation Award in 2009 from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage. The renovation preserved the structure of the old Chiang Mai Governor's residence within the hotel and transformed it into a residence lounge, maintaining the beauty of Lanna culture while adding modern interior decorations.

Additionally, the Group has invested in purchasing the Sino-Portuguese architectural building "Pra Aram Sakorn Khet Mansion", a historic Sino-Portuguese style building over 100 years old, located in the heart of the old town of Phuket. This investment is in line with the Group's commitment to preserving historical buildings. Therefore, it is evident that, aside from being a successful business organization in various sectors through its operations in the Move, Mix, and Match business groups, the BTS Group also recognizes the value and importance of Thailand's cultural heritage.

Mr. Keeree stated, "I am not pushing these projects to create an image. I don't want that. Since I turned 60, I have started supporting various charitable causes for the benefit of the community, such as building the Makut Kiriwan School for the Blind in Khao Yai, constructing the Makut Kiriwan Hospital in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and establishing the Fah Sung Foundation and Fah Sung Dialysis Center. I feel that I have been through a lot, so I told myself that from now on, I must do everything to give back to society. But my style is not just about donating money and leaving it at that. I want to build things with my own hands because I fear that the benefits may not reach the people I intend to help. So, I choose to do it myself and then hand it over. These projects are under the name 'Keeree and Friends,' referring to friends who are aware of what I am doing and want to contribute to the charity work. If I let myself get too old, around 70 to 80 years old, I might not have the strength to do anything for society anymore. That's why I have to start now."

Importantly, this event is also part of a project to promote tourism and stimulate the economy. The "Paper Mill Night Market: Chic and Chill in Kanchanaburi" aims to promote the Kanchanaburi Thai Paper Mill as a new landmark in Kanchanaburi Province. By presenting a fresh and modern perspective, it caters to new-age tourists while boosting the economy and enhancing the province's competitiveness in the tourism industry.

The Thai Paper Mill is an architectural relic from World War II, constructed in 1938 by engineers and craftsmen from Germany. This massive structure is set among ancient city walls dating back to the reign of King Rama III. After the political change in 1932, the People's Party aimed to transform Thailand into an agro-industrial country, leading to the construction of this paper mill. It was the second paper mill built after the one in Samsen Nai, Bangkok. However, it was the first fully integrated mill and the largest in Asia at that time.

Additionally, the site holds significant historical value, characterized by its rare, ancient European architecture. It has been dubbed the "First Industrial Museum of Thailand" and is recognized as a symbol of Kanchanaburi's transformation from an agrarian society to an industrial one. This community landmark, with its rich history and influence on Kanchanaburi society at the time, remains intact today. The entire structure, including the smoke stacks, power generators, and paper production machinery, has been preserved in its original state. Remarkably, it houses the last remaining piece of such machinery in the world, located right here in Thailand.