Cabinet nods to 2017 expenditure budget

BANGKOK, 17 May 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has given the green light to the 2017 expenditure budget, worth 2.73 trillion baht, while all units have been urged by the Prime Minister to speed up their investment projects.

Director of the Bureau of the Budget Somsak Chotrattanasiri reported that the Cabinet has agreed to set the expenditure budget for fiscal year 2017 at 2.73 trillion baht while projecting revenue of 2.34 trillion baht and a budget deficit of 390 billion baht. According to the budget allocation plan, the Ministry of Education secures the highest budget at 519.29 billion baht. Another 398.95 billion baht is set aside as the central budget, decreasing by 56.43 billion baht from the current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance sees the largest increase in allocation, receiving 218.63 billion baht, up from this year by 56 billion baht. The second highest jump belongs to the Ministry of Transport, which is entrusted with 152.72 billion baht, up 16.65 billion baht.

During the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister instructed all ministries to prepare a lineup of their investment projects for the new fiscal year and stressed that each project should reach the procurement stage at the very beginning of the year.

As the budget plan has received the Cabinet’s approval, the Office of the Council of State will draw up the budget bill for the Cabinet’s consideration again on June 7. Afterwards, the bill will be forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly, which is expected to hold final readings on September 16.


-- NNT 2016-05-17

And the Military budget is...........secret, national security etc.

No actually the 2015 budget was 207 billion Baht (300%+ increase since 2005), which is about 1.5% of GDP.

The defence budget for 2017 is THB214 billion. A nominal 3% increase. Much smaller than following the 2006 coup.