Thailand PM Promises Southern Economic Boost in Songkhla
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is focusing on the nation’s southern region with a mobile cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Songkhla province. This meeting, the first of its kind this year, underscores the government’s commitment to boosting economic growth, developing infrastructure along the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern coast, and strengthening the vital Sadao border trade link with Malaysia.
Prior to the cabinet meeting, Ms. Shinawatra will undertake a two-day tour of Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces, beginning Monday. Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub stated that this visit will enable the Prime Minister and her cabinet to engage directly with local communities, gathering firsthand insights into their challenges. This grassroots approach aims to inform and refine government policies across various sectors, including agricultural modernization (promoting high-value crops and sustainable tourism), industrial growth, and advancement of the bio-circular-green (BCG) economy. Cross-border trade, a critical component of the region’s economic vitality, will also be a key focus.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary highlights diverse aspects of the region’s development agenda. In Phatthalung, Ms. Shinawatra will inspect water management strategies at the Thale Noi viewpoint in Khuan Khanun district, addressing flood and drought mitigation in the Songkhla Lake area. This visit underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the region’s ecological balance and ensuring sustainable resource management.
Focusing on economic drivers, the Prime Minister will visit Thai Union Seafood Co., Ltd. in Songkhla’s Singha Nakhon district. This engagement with a major player in Thailand’s seafood industry will provide an opportunity to address production and export issues and gather recommendations crucial for maintaining Thailand’s global competitiveness. Recognizing the tourism sector’s potential, Ms. Shinawatra will also visit Songkhla Old Town to explore avenues for enhancing tourism and developing new attractions, further diversifying the region’s economy.
The two-day tour culminates in the mobile cabinet meeting at Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai district on Tuesday. Afterward, the Prime Minister will visit the Sadao customs checkpoint, a critical gateway for trade with Malaysia. This visit will allow Ms. Shinawatra to assess the progress of a new road connecting Sadao with Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint—a project designed to streamline cross-border trade and further integrate the two economies.
Mr. Houngsub emphasized that the Prime Minister’s focus extends beyond immediate project updates. Ms. Shinawatra aims to understand the long-term opportunities and challenges facing the southern region, ensuring government policies deliver tangible benefits. This proactive approach reflects a broader strategy of harnessing the region’s potential, positioning it as a hub for national and international projects. The mobile cabinet meeting serves as a platform for policy discussion and a critical step toward realizing the southern region’s full economic potential, significantly contributing to Thailand’s overall prosperity.
