PM affirms transparency of 1.7-trillion-baht mega infrastructure projects

BANGKOK, September 14 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha assured that his government would spend national budgets with transparency on its 1.7-trillion-baht mega infrastructure projects and keep their implementation within fiscal disciplines. In his speech to open the annual meeting of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board at the IMPACT convention center in Nonthaburi province on Sept 14, Gen Prayut said the megaprojects would generate national revenue. He urged the future goverment to avoid the project that may cause great and lasting damage like rice-buying schemes. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board held the meeting to discuss the implementation of the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan from 2017 to 2021. The prime minister said that during the 12th NESDB development plan, transport infrastructures would be built including railways as well as facilities to improve water and air transport. On the same occasion, Gen Prayut urged small and medium enterprises to enter the government's taxation system and asked the mass media to refrain from linking Thailand to international issues including the Islamic State movement for the sake of national peace. (TNA)