The Cabinet on Tuesday approved more than 60 large-scale investment projects in the lower North and upper Northeast designed to facilitate and to connect with the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.
These projects are grouped into six areas of development including a project to connect Thailand’s economic corridor with Luang Phrabang in Laos, Indo-China, and Mawlamyine in Myanmar, said government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
Logistics development, tourism and water resources management are among other categories of the development projects approved, said Lt Gen Sansern.
These approved projects will be next prioritized and sources of funding for their implementation will be decided later, he said.
Among the transport network development group, Asian Highway 117 and other connected roads will be developed to improve the link to Phu Du permanent border pass in Uttaradit province, he said.
An associated project was approved to allow the online visa system to be adopted to facilitate cross-border trade and transport through the Thai-Lao border in Uttaradit, he said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was assigned to lead the implementation of this project, he said.
In the logistics development group, projects approved at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting included the further development of Udon Thani international airport, Loei airport, Phitsanulok airport and the construction of a new airport in Bung Kan province, he said.
Under the new development project, Udon Thani airport will be able to receive up to 7.5 million passengers per year, from currently 3.5 million passengers per year, he said.
Another project was approved to build a rail link between Loei, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Bung Kan provinces, he said.
