GOVT URGES PEOPLE TO REFRAIN FROM SPENDING ON EXPENSIVE GIFT ITEMS DURING NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL

The government has requested cooperation from public and private sectors, including the general public, to refrain from buying expensive items as gifts for New Year’s festival.

Deputy government spokesperson Sansanee Nagpong (ศันสนีย์ นาคพงศ์) said that prior to the meeting, deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Suriya Jeungroongruengkit (สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ) notified the meeting about the progress of help for the people in many areas, provided by the government according to its promises made during mobile cabinet meetings. Mr. Suriya proposed the projects to the Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Suranand Vejjajiva (สุรนันทน์ เวชชาชีวะ), the National Social and Economic Development Board, and the Budget Bureau, to prioritize them and allocate budgets accordingly.

Ms. Sansanee said that then the cabinet meeting decided to cancel 9 cabinet resolutions on extending New Year’s wishes, organizing celebrations and gift-giving on the occasion of New Year’s day, as they are out-dated and overlapping. She said that the meeting incorporated them into one resolution, for convenience in making references. She said tht the government would also ask the people to refrain from buying expensive items as gifts, and instead purchase OTOP products during the festival.

The cabinet also agrees that all parties stop presenting expensive gifts to the Prime Minister and senior officials. It urges the people to send New Year’s cards instead, to save money.

Celebrations will also be canceled if viewed unnecessary, to save national budgets.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 December 2005

INTERIOR MINISTRY SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF USING OTOP PRODUCTS AS NEW YEAR PRESENTS

Deputy Minister of Interior SOMCHAI SUNTHORNVAT (สมชาย สุนทรวัฒน์) has called for a final meeting with related agencies in preparation for the OTOP City Fair. The event will take place at MUANG THONG THANI between December 17th and 25th.

Mr. SOMCHAI is confident that the fair will generate greater amount of income in comparison to the past years. He said the government aims to generate 1 billion baht of income.

The fair would comprise of OTOP goods from every province, and visitors can purchase them as gifts for their loved ones during the upcoming New Year's festival. Therefore, they would help circulate money within the country and also correspond to the government policy in urging Thai people to buy and use Thai products. One million people are expected to visit the OTOP City Fair.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 December 2005

The fair would comprise of OTOP goods from every province, and visitors can purchase them as gifts for their loved ones during the upcoming New Year's festival. Therefore, they would help circulate money within the country and also correspond to the government policy in urging Thai people to buy and use Thai products. One million people are expected to visit the OTOP City Fair. 

We can be sure that Somchai will do his shopping at Siam Parangon... while the thai people should buy "OTOP"...

GOVT URGES PEOPLE TO REFRAIN FROM SPENDING ON EXPENSIVE GIFT ITEMS DURING NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL

Celebrations will also be canceled if viewed unnecessary, to save national budgets.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 December 2005

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Save national budgets? Get real with this! What was the cost of the "Soft Launch" in September of this year...about 10 million baht for a ceremony in which Toxin landed his private jet onto an incomplete, scandal ridden airport. Save national budgets my...

Mr. T. sure does a lot to save on the national budgets