PM Paetongtarn during a meeting on Thai exports on April 22 | Photo via Ing Shinawatra/Facebook

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra advocates major transport development initiatives in northeast Thailand, ahead of a mobile Cabinet meeting in Nakhon Phanom on April 29. This agenda aims to transform Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, and Mukdahan provinces into a dynamic economic and tourism hub along the Mekong River.

 

Today, the PM's visit highlights key areas of focus, including cross-border trade, water resource management, sustainable development, and drug suppression efforts along the Mekong River, according to Government Spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub.

 

Key proposals include increasing flights to Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon airports, with Mukdahan Airport's environmental study on track for completion by year's end. Rail infrastructure is also advancing with a new 355-kilometre double-track railway between Ban Phai and Mukdahan-Phanom, set for a 2028 opening, and further regional railway extensions under review.

 

A border cargo centre in Nakhon Phanom is slated to open this year, enhancing connectivity via the R12 route linking Thailand with Laos, Vietnam, and southern China. More than 20 road projects are underway, emphasizing enhanced regional and cross-border connectivity.

 

 

 

Jirayu articulated the government's aim to elevate secondary cities like Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, and Mukdahan as top destinations, boosting tourism and local economies throughout the year.

 

In healthcare, the launch of the Faculty of Medicine at Nakhon Phanom University seeks to address the shortage of medical professionals in the upper northeast.

 

During her visit, the PM will assess projects like a water rehabilitation initiative at Don Koen Park in Sakon Nakhon and a sustainable fashion model at the handicraft centre in Nawa district of Nakhon Phanom. She will also lead discussions on cross-border drug trafficking at the Royal Thai Navy's Mekong Riverine Unit and participate in a cultural ceremony along the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom.

 

These transport and development projects aim to foster economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance the living standards of residents in Thailand's northeastern region.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-28

 

 

This will be great.

Looking to spend some time eating some of the local delicacies, hot dogs.