PM visits Phitsanulok

PHITSANULOK, Dec 25 (TNA) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha takes a field trip to the lower northern province of Phitsanulok before going to nearby province of Sukhothai for the Cabinet retreat on Tuesday. Main agendas of the field trip are a meeting on development strategy for the Northern region, the visits to Thung Bang Ragam water management and model community on bio economy, observation on conservation and promotion of historical tourism, and meeting with local residents of the two provinces, said the statement from the government’s website. According to the Prime Minister, major problems of the Northern region are poverty, incomplete infrastructure of the major cities especially public transport and airports, non-irrigation farmlands, and low-value agricultural products. Development strategy for the North will, therefore, focus on addressing poverty, together with enhancing existing capacity. Gen Prayut today visited Wang Somsa village in Phitsanulok’s provincial seat to observe the Bio-economy model community, which adopts technology and innovation to add values to local products. The Pracharat Rak Samakkee Phitsanulok Company Limited was established to develop herbal products from a local plant, Bitter Orange or Somsa. It also promotes traditional massage with bitter orange products and local tourism to create income for their community. The prime minister told local people to increase more sales through online channel and to look into patent application in order to preserve local wisdom. On Tuesday, Gen Prayut will chair a Cabinet Retreat, which is scheduled to be held at the Institute of Physical Education Sukhothai. (TNA)