BANGKOK, Nov 22 – Concerned agencies are moving to implement all of the five special economic zones in border areas within the current 2015 fiscal year, which ends next September 30, said Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Speaking during his weekly TV programme on Friday, Gen Prayut said a meeting was held by the special economic zone development policy committee earlier this week in a bid to make progress in the five special economic zones being implemented by the current government.
However, this may take some time especially on planning, budgeting, city planning and benefits to be offered to would-be entrepreneurs, he said.
This government has attached importance because the projects would help develop the economy in the border areas as well as help strengthen the ASEAN economy to other parts of the world.
Gen. Prayut said the projects would also help solved smuggling of goods along the border and generate more income for poor people living along the border.
The five special economic zones are Tak’s Mae Sot district bordering Myanmar, Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district and Trat’s Khlong Yai district, both bordering Cambodia, as well as in Mukdahan province bordering Laos and Songkhla’s Sa Dao district bordering Malaysia.
On the ASEAN Community, due to be kicked off at end of 2015, Gen Prayut said Thailand needs to build sustainable strength and make preparations of human resources, which include language skills, so that the kingdom could compete with neighbouring countries, other ASEAN members and the world community, which have developed rapidly.
The government will have to lay out measures which would help facilitate foreign trade and investment, he said.
The world community is talking about visions for the years 2015, 2025 and 2035, said Gen Prayut, adding that Thailand needs to study and make plans in order to move the country forward on a long-term basis.
He went on to say that the United Nations has declared November 25 of every year to be the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’ while Thailand has made November of every year the month dedicated to stopping violence against children and women.
Gen Prayut said he wanted to include elderly and crippled persons into this important day and added that a strong society today should not look down against women and children or whoever which could create injustice.
