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Published on February 9, 2008

He said yesterday that he would discuss with the State Railway of Thailand, the owner of the lease area, and Transport Minister Santi Prompat about how to reduce the fee for vendors who rent stalls there.

Samak visited the market, located close to Chatuchak Park in the centre of Bangkok, on the first day he was officially named prime minister. He complained about the expensive food prices to which he received a reply from the vendors that they were forced to set their prices high because of the expensive lease fee.

The SRT has increased the lease fee from Bt6 million to Bt34 million, effective at the end of January, and rising to Bt54 million in ten years. Some vendors refused to sign the agreement to protest the new rents.

The Marketing Organisation for Farmers' market is one of the most popular fresh markets for middle- to upper-class buyers. Samak visited the market to show his determination to look into the price rise amidst general concerns over rising prices.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee will meet with the central bank next week to map out economic plans for the new government, which has replaced the army-installed Cabinet.

He said that he would also open a "war room" to start working to regain market confidence in six months.

Surapong earlier announced a series of economic policies to boost growth such as the continuation of the village fund, mega projects and debt amnesty for farmers.

The Samak government has pledged to achieve no less than 5.5-per-cent growth this year.

The Nation