Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has assigned the Ministry of Transport to set investment priorities for the various transport infrastructure projects when making use of the generous investment budget that it has been allocated.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid (pictured), who is charged with overseeing affairs relating to the economy, met with senior transport ministry officials yesterday to give them his policies.
Speaking to the media he said the Ministry of Transport has been granted a large investment budget and needs to set priorities in the allocation of the budget. The prioratisation must take into consideration competitiveness, quality of life, tourism and the drive to truly make Thailand the connectivity center of the ASEAN region, he added.
He noted the decision to go ahead with each project must take into account creating connectivity for the various industrial estates so investors will be drawn towards the industrial parks. He also added that emphasis needs to be placed on joint public-private sector investments, which were transparent and which involved investment by individual members of the public.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister projects that will be fast-tracked include the expanded airport rail link, the Blue Line electric train route linking Bang Khae with Phutthamonthon no. 4 Road and the improvement of aviation standards.