The government is determined to stamp out the issue of illegal import of pork.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin made the statement, saying that he previously discussed several measures to mitigate the situation. Several hundred containers of smuggled pork have recently been seized, with ongoing investigations to mitigate the issue led by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
The Prime Minister pointed out that an often overlooked aspect of these crackdowns is the potential surge in pork prices due to a limited number of legitimate vendors. To counteract this, the government plans to support mid-level and small-scale pork traders. Funds are being allocated in cooperation with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives and the Department of Livestock Development.
The Prime Minister also discussed the contentious 10,000-baht digital wallet initiative. Although criticized for a lack of clarity, the policy is under review and details will be finalized after a committee meeting. Furthermore, the government is expected to make a key announcement in February next year.
On the issue of potentially replacing submarines with frigates, Prime Minister Srettha encouraged the Ministry of Defense to continue negotiations only after gathering complete information. He assured that Thailand will not be disadvantaged in these talks. (NNT)
