Transport Ministry urged to speed up investment

BANGKOK, June 11 (TNA) -- In an effort to kick-start national economy, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has asked the Transport Ministry to accelerate investment on mega projects. Mr Somkid told senior officers of the Transport Ministry during a meeting Friday that bidding for three electric train lines to be constructed in Bangkok and in the neighbouring province of Samut Prakan will be held late this month. Combined investment by the Transport and the Energy ministries totaled about 5 trillion baht is expected to help drive the national economy forward, said Mr Somkid. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha is scheduled to chair a meeting on logistics investment in early July, said Mr Somkid, adding that he had asked the national carrier Thai Airways International (THAI) to adjust its flying programmes aimed at promoting national economy. THAI is asked to do everything possible to tackle high-end customers so that it could have enough money for investment in the next 3-4 years, he said. As Japanese, Chinese and South Korean investors have expressed enthusiasm to invest on high-speed train running between Bangkok – Rayong and Bangkok – Hua Hin, Mr Somkid said he has assigned the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning to gather information on transportation on the eastern region and on Bangkok to Hua Hin. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry and the Securities and Exchange Commission are working together to launch the Thailand Future Fund worth 100 billion baht. Details of the fund are expected to be disclosed in July. (TNA)