Thailand to speed up new rail projects

BANGKOK, October 6 (TNA) - Realising that several international investors have moved in to invest in the Dawei special economic zone in Myanmar, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has asked Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittyapaisith to speed up new high-speed rail projects in Thailand to be then connected with Myanmar. Somkid told journalists on Monday that he raised the issue during his meeting with the transport minister earlier in the day. Somkid noted that plans by Thailand to co-invest with Japan to develop the East-West Economic Corridor, which would connect with neighbouring countries, would create a maximum efficiency. In response the transport minister pledged to speed up procedures so that the construction of the new rail project would be started by next year. For another rail development project between Thailand and China, the deputy prime minister revealed that negotiations have been on progress, pointing out that, if completed, the Sino-Thai rail project would offer important economic returns because it would be used in transporting both goods and passengers. (TNA)