The private sector has urged the government to allocate an additional Bt10 billion from the Thai Khemkhaeng stimulus budget to help develop industries in the deep South, the goal being to accelerate domestic growth as the global economic recovery picks up steam.
It is also urging the Commerce Ministry to urgently set up a distribution centre in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district, as such a facility would play a key role in promoting cross-border trade with Malaysia.
Somkiat Anuras, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and in charge of economic matters in the area, said industrial development and cross-border trade promotion had played a vital role in driving economic growth in the deep South.
"The government is putting an insufficient budget into the area, given the global economic rebound. It should inject at least Bt10 billion into the area in a bid to boost businesses growth," said Somkiat.
He added that the Halal Industrial Estate in Pattani had not operated effectively over the past year, and the government should promote more businesses to invest in the estate. Investment promotion would not only promote growth of the halal industry, but also increase employment in the far South of the country.
Moreover, he said, funds should be allocated for the development of livestock farming and handicraft manufacturing in the three southernmost provinces, as most labourers cannot travel far from their hometowns to seek employment.
Such a move would increase employment and help communities rely on their own incomes, he added.
To further promote economic growth in the region, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot today leads representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and logistics businesses to Narathiwat in a bid to boost businesses opportunities.
Alongkorn is scheduled to meet high-level officials and key businessmen in the deep South to promote trade and investment in the area.
"The deep South is the southern gateway for Thailand. The government will try to increase investment and trading in the area," he said last week.
The minister said that due to the separatist unrest, economic growth in the area had not fulfilled its potential. The government will accelerate the promotion of trade and investment growth, as well as encouraging closer relations with Malaysia's northern states to boost economic growth.
The establishment of a distribution centre in Narathiwat is one of the ministry's priorities for promoting cross-border trade following last month's implementation of the Asean Free Trade Agreement.
Other cross-border checkpoints around the country that will each get a distribution centre are in Mae Sot, Mae Sai, Mukdahan and Aranyaprathet.
