Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy to be promoted nationwide

The Minister of Interior has expressed great satisfaction over the progress of Sufficiency Economy implementation in villages throughout the country.

Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has incorporated the royally-initiated philosophy into its main strategy to push for concrete development of villages nationwide. In this beginning stage, the ministry has successfully introduced the concept to more than 5,000 villages.

As an incentive to villagers, the ministry has named 12 villages which have made outstanding progress under the philosophy. Two of them are in the central region, three in the North, three in the Northeast, one in the East and three others in the South.

The Ministry of Interior has set as its target to introduce the concept to half of the villages nationwide by the end of 2007 and expects to see all villages throughout the country apply the theory by 2008.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 July 2006

Anyone have some information about the philosophy of the self sufficiency economy. I'd like to learn what H.M.The King has formulated about this and also how the gov't has interpreted it and what they are doing to implement it.

Sufficiency economy means to spend within your means. Do not go into debt to acquire goods you cannot afford. Stick with basic items such as food, clothing and housing. Do not borrow money to buy products which have to be imported or are made by foreigners. This is how I interpret the term, Sufficiency Economy.

The url below is an English translation of one of His Majesty's speeches concerning Sufficiency Economy. You will get a much better idea of what it is after reading His Majesty's comments.

http://kanchanapisek.or.th/speeches/1998/1204.en.html

Thanks for digging that out.