BANGKOK, Aug 8 – Foreign investors were assured today that the government’s massive investment on infrastructure development to upgrade Thailand as a ‘connectivity hub’ for Southeast Asia will be accomplished as planned.
Varathep Rattanakorn, minister to the prime minister’s office and deputy agriculture minister, said in a seminar on “Business Opportunities for the Private Sector” that the government was determined to carry out the mega projects to attract foreign investors and tourists to the region.
He called on countries in the Mekong sub-region to collaborate with Thailand in developing the transportation system, whether the rail system or highways, as well as additional border crossings.
The government wants the private sector overseas to join hands in connecting the region by rail and road, while academic cooperation and tourism should be also promoted, he said.
Mr Varathep said the amnesty bill should be approved by Parliament as scheduled while the 2014 budget bill should be debated in the House next week, after which the bill to seek Bt2 trillion in loans for infrastructure development would be slated for deliberation, possibly within this month.
Related government agencies have mapped out investment plans especially building the electric mass transit system on 10 routes in Bangkok and its outskirts, the development of a dual track system and a high-speed train system on three major routes – Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Hua Hin and Bangkok-Nong Khai.
When the bill for Bt2 trillion in loans is passed by Parliament, the Transport Ministry will possibly seek the loans early next year so that the mega project could kickstart as soon as possible, Mr Varathep said.
