Economic development plans in Lower Thai North tailored

PHITSANULOK,THAILAND, December 25 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Commerce, joins forces with the private sector in working out economic development plans in the Lower Thai North, covering those on trade, investment and logistics expansions. Accompanied by Permanent Secretary for Commerce Nantawan Sakuntanak and other executives of the ministry, newly-appointed Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong (สนธิรัตน์ สนธิจิรวงศ์) traveled to Phitsanulok Province on Monday to hold a meeting with representatives of the private sector to discuss the plans. "The Ministry of Commerce is jointly tailoring the plans with the private sector, comprising of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), farmers' councils and tourism associations, based on the Thai government's policy on the development of economic corridors to support more regional connectivity between areas in the Lower Thai North and those in neighboring member countries of the Greater Mekhong Sub-region (GMS) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or the Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)", Sonthirat told journalists. Sonthirat pointed out that areas in the Lower Thai North have potential to create and sustain connectivity with the neighboring countries in terms of trade, investment, logistics and tourism, as well as social and cultural links. The minister stressed apart from possessing world heritages, the Lower Thai North can be developed as a regional production base of high value-added food, processed food and organic farm products that have been displayed and sold through both traditional and modern online marketing channels, namely at the yearly THAIFEX-World of food ASIA and the Organic Natural EXpo events. The minister said Monday's meeting with the private sector included discussions and exchanges of views and knowledge on the further development of local farmers, business operators and their online trade and marketing channels, as well as those on further expanding cross-border trade and proposed solutions to existing problems to be later submitted to the Thai Cabinet for further consideration and actions. The representatives of the private sector proposed, meanwhile, that the Thai government accelerate implementing more infrastructure development plans in the Lower Thai North, located on the promising East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) Project of GMS, including new high speed train, dual train and logistics systems to facilitate and support its business expansion. (TNA)