PM pays visit to Surat Thani, Songkhla
NNT

SURAT THANI, 28 December 2015 (NNT) -- The Prime Minister has made an official visit to the southern region, where he followed up on the progress of government policies.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha led other members of the Cabinet on a trip to Surat Thani and Songkhla provinces, with an aim of inspecting developments in various projects. On this occasion, he was accompanied by many Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya.

According to Gen Prayut, the inspection of progress in the South focused on the local spending of budgets and implementation of economic measures, especially those aimed to assist and strengthen rubber farmers. He said the government is trying hard to help rubber planters withoutdistorting rubber prices in the market while promoting the cultivation of additional crops in order for them to earn extra income.

As part of the visit, the premier also traveled to the rubber industrial estate in Songkhla, where he said rubber processing plants could fully begin operation as soon as 2016. He then inspected preparations being made for the opening of a new border checkpoint on the Thai-Malaysian border.

Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL5812280010008`

-- NNT 2015-12-28

Nothing to do with certain officials in Surat Thani calling in favors in relation to a recent verdict.

Had to collect his cut!

He then inspected preparations being made for the opening of a new border checkpoint on the Thai-Malaysian border.

Does anyone have any details on this new Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint? where it would be in relation to some of the more popular ones, like Padang Besar, Dannok, etc.

“the government is trying hard to help rubber planters without distorting rubber prices in the market”

Apparently trying hard to hide possible distortions:

2015-10-25

“He [Pairat Jaichum, vice president of a network of rubber planters in 14 southern provinces] said rubber plants wanted the government to subsidise rubber price at 65 baht/kg and to force the Transport Ministry to increase of the use of raw rubber to pave roads and also to devise measures to increase rubber products so as to add value to raw rubber.

He warned that rubber planters are in deep trouble and they no longer are afraid of the military junta.”

“the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will hold a meeting of agencies concerned to discuss rubber price problem and how to shore up its price on Monday.”

Coincidentally, in conjunction with the sale of 80,000 tons of rubber to Russia next year, Russia will deliver three Sukhoi Superjet passenger planes to Thailand (for Thai military use?) by late next year or early 2017. Perhaps some oppportunity to hide a phantom rubber subsidy in what appears to be a G2G barter deal by paying an inflated price for the aircraft?

"Thailand has also asked China to purchase 200,000 tonnes of rubber for about 3-5 yuan (Bt16-Bt27) a kilogram above the market price." The Nation 2015-05-12

edited to include China comment

He then inspected preparations being made for the opening of a new border checkpoint on the Thai-Malaysian border.

Does anyone have any details on this new Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint? where it would be in relation to some of the more popular ones, like Padang Besar, Dannok, etc.

To hazard a guess, I would say he went to Inspect the new complex at Sadao, We were there a few months back and it was looking ready to open.

Padan Bezar is also being upgraded.

I didn't quite understand what they were doing at Sadao .. I can never understand why the everybody including huge amount of Malaysian traffic has to snake around infront of a the small amount of immigration desks, yet on the other side there are fast-tracks for Malays and bikes just rock up to a window and are on the way within seconds.