PM checks progress in Northeast
Nakhon Phanom is capitalising on its strengths to develop cross-border transport connectivity, agro-industrial prospects and tourism promotion, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his visit to the northeastern province yesterday.
Gen Prayut was in Nakhon Phanom to follow up on the progress of the government’s drive to secure economic prosperity in the cluster of upper northeastern provinces.
The premier said the provincial cluster was adopted by the government as a model for bringing about structural economic improvement which would help accelerate growth by harnessing the provinces’ strengths.
The model also stresses policies to spur economic help for the underprivileged and the poor.
So far, the government has implemented key measures to tackle problems in the farm sector and issues affecting water management, and security and law enforcement, Gen Prayut said.
The prime minister was accompanied on his visit by heads of state agencies, including the Transport Ministry, the Industry Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry and the Commerce Ministry.
Nakhon Phanom province, in particular, is geographically positioned in a way to provide transport links to neighbouring countries, which directly benefits the tourism sector.
The government has allocated a budget to develop a route connecting with Laos and Vietnam, which would open the door to regional industrial cooperation.
Gen Prayut said the economic structural improvement being put in place in Nakhon Phanom involves prioritising agro-industrial promotion, a policy which is being executed alongside the development of a special economic zone in the region.
At the same time, the prime minister said residents are being encouraged to realise their own community’s strengths, which would help them tailor their own development guidelines so they are best suited to the localities.
This could include the adoption of more organic farms and the growing of garden vegetables to supplement family incomes.
Gen Prayut also led a meeting of the provincial cluster comprising Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon and Mukdahan in Nakhon Phanom, which is one of the provinces within the special economic zone.
The meeting endorsed in principle the economic forest project to utilise part of the forest for agricultural purposes which would also boost local employment.
The meeting also approved a project on growing and marketing locally-harvested organic crops.
In addition, the prime minister ordered state ministries to study the feasibility of a project to forge sustainable management of water for farming in Mukdahan.