Talks held on infrastructure development in Thai North

BANGKOK, November 10 (TNA) - Discussions have been held on a government plan to invest heavily on the development of basic infrastructure in the Thai North, aimed at catering continual growth in the region and preparing for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), set to be formed by 2015. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Soithip Traisuddhi said on Saturday that under the plan, the Thai government will construct three new highways, including the one linking Nakhon Sawan Province with Bang Pa-in area in the central Ayutthaya Province, as well as a goods warehouse in Chiang Khong District of the northernmost Chiang Rai Province, two high-speed rail projects, the construction of a new dam and a new port in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen District. According to the senior official, the Thai Ministry of Transport has already mapped out development plans for nationwide infrastructure, set to be funded by some two trillion baht, to cater to national economic growth over the next 10-15 years.(TNA)