Thailand to become 'land of smiles' again: Prayut

The letter penned by Prayut entitled “From the Heart of the Prime Minister”, urged Thais to become more self-reliant economically. Prayut wrote that over the past decade, political, economic and social imbalances stemming from political instability have led to the lack of continuity in successive governments’ policies.

 

  Prayut said he, as prime minister, is seeking to redress the issues facing the kingdom over the past years and to lay foundations for national reform. The premier added that he is well aware that it’s hard to build a nation as long as its people do not have enough food on the table or cannot sleep.

 

  Amidst the global economic slowdown and Thailand’s 70 per cent dependency on its income from exports, Prayut said Thais will have to stop depending on others. This, said Prayut, is why the current administration is trying to help farmers who are the backbone of the country to be able to stand by themselves. Measures cited by Prayut in assisting farmers includes tackling farmers’ debts that they owe to loan shark, provide access to loan, improve irrigation system and water sources, improve social welfare, encourage savings and more.

 

  The prime minister also said the government is trying to strengthen villages, tambons as well as SME enterprises in order to create more jobs at local level.

 

  Efforts are also being made to extend infrastructure to link various production areas to better export Thailand to the world, wrote Prayut.

 

  “I am confident that these measures will return Thailand to become ‘Smiling Siam’ that is known to the world once again,” Prayut concluded.