Lower Thai Northeast to be developed as hub of SMEs, startups

BANGKOK, July 9 (TNA) - The government is promoting four lower northeastern Thai provinces of Srisaket, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon and Ubon Ratchathani to become a center for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the country, especially those producing organic farm and herbal products. Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Kobsak Pootrakool led his team to visit the lower northeastern Thai region over the last weekend to follow up progress of the policy, as well as to be briefed on outstanding performances and to listen to remaining problems. Under the policy, the minister said, areas of organic farming mainly for the production of safe food products in order to boost locals' income in the four northeastern Thai provinces will be increased about double over the next three years, from nearly 400,000 rai (2.5 rai = 1 acre) currently to about 800,000 rai, out of their total farmland area of about 13.82 rai. The minister was also reported on the problem of insufficient water sources in Srisaket and Yasothon Provinces and on a plan to promote all the four provinces to become a hub of SMEs and startups running quality and innovative processed food and herbal businesses. Besides, the Thai government is considering to construct the 6th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge linking Natan area in Ubon Ratchathani Province with an area across the border in Lao PDR and to expand other land routes to connect with those in Lao PDR and Cambodia. During the trip, the minister also visited homestay tourist sites, organic farming community networks and a herbal city project. Amnat Charoen is, meanwhile, one of 13 Thai provinces having been announced as "Thai herbal cities" and has a famous traditional Thai medical center where herbal Thai products meeting the internationally-recognized Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) are produced. (TNA)