Coalition parties' projects not dumped

Bangkok Post
Published: FEB/8/2010 at 11:57 AM

There are no plans to scrap any of the Thai Khem Khaeng economic stimulus projects supported by the Democrat Party's coalition partners, Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri said on Monday.

Mr. Trairong denied rumours that the junior coalition parties plan to boycott projects under the 400-billion-baht loan act if the Democrat-led government cancelled the dustless road project, a favourite of the Bhumijaithai Party.

"The government will consider the projects that are necessary and beneficial, such as the dual track rail system and the irrigation system, but the dustless road project is not a priority since it does not bring in revenue to the country."

"I believe the coalition partners can distinguish between the importance of various projects," the deputy premier overseeing economic matters said.

He said the Budget Bureau and the Department of Internal Trade will determine which projects could have their budgets reduced.

There were no plans at this stage to cancel any projects."The Bank of Thailand is moving in a direction by giving Thai investors more freedom to invest overseas, but it will be two to three months before we see the result," he said.