Thailand moves to establish special economic zones

BANGKOK, November 22 (TNA) - Concerned Thai agencies are moving to materialise all five special economic zones in border areas within the current 2015 fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2015. Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha told the public of the move during his weekly address on Friday night, saying that a meeting was held by the special economic zone development policy committee earlier this week in a bid to make progress of the five special economic zones. General Prayut acknowledged, however, that the move may take time, especially on planning, budget, city planning and an appropriate arrangement of benefits to be offered to business operators. The prime minister noted that his government has attached importance to the move to establish the special economic zones because the policy will help develop local economy in the border areas, while also strengthening the overall economy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to other parts of the world. The prime minister pointed out the policy also helps solve goods smuggling along the border and generate more income to the poor living along the border. According to the prime minister, the five special economic zones are those in Mae Sot District of the northwestern Tak Province bordering Myanmar, Aranyaprathet District in the eastern Sa Kaeo Province and Khlong Yai District of the eastern Trat Province, both bordering Cambodia, as well as those in the northeastern Mukdahan Province bordering Laos and Sa Dao District in the southern Songkhla Province bordering Malaysia. (TNA)