PM:Mega projects will make Thailand become ASEAN hub

BANGKOK, September 24 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck says that her government's new mega-investment projects over the next seven years. totaly worth about 2.2 trillion baht, are aimed at promoting Thailand to become a center of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Rebutting the opposition's criticisms against her administration's 2.2-trillion-baht new infrastructure development projects during a House debate on her government's performance on Tuesday, Yingluck said the development packages, mostly in the transport sector, will not only develop transport networks in the country but they will also relieve social inequality and provide people with access to health and educational services. According to the prime minister, government officials will explain the mega-investment plans and their benefits to people in all regions, assuring that the new investment projects will be transparent to prevent corruption and will promote the distribution of economic growth to all Thai regions. Yingluck insisted that new transport development plans not only serve the Thai population of 60-70 million, but also meet regional demands after the ASEAN Community (AC) is formed by 2015 and make Thailand become an ASEAN hub in the future, as Thailand's infrastructure readiness will attract more foreign investment and will draw in additional national income. The prime minister admitted to the opposition's criticism that the loan-based transport investment will make Thai people indebted for as long as 50 years, but she affirmed that its benefits are worth investment. The Thai prime minister's remarks were in response to the main opposition Democrat Party's heavy criticisms against her government's expensive transport investment and introduction of its own 2-trillion-baht "Thai Khem Khaeng" national development project for comparison. (TNA)