On 28 October 2011, Mr. Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, briefed to a group of around 80 heads of mission and representatives from the Diplomatic Corps and International Organizations on the Government’s relief and recovery plan after the flood recedes. Gist as follows:
1. The Government has established distribution centers at Don Mueang Airport and Hemaraj Industrial Estate in Chonburi Province to distribute food and essential supplies in light of the current shortage. The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated that the current shortage is due to logistical constraint, not due to a fall in production, which currently stands at 95 percent of normal capacity. The Deputy Prime Minister expects the situation to return to normalcy in the next few days.
2. To help rehabilitate affected businesses, the Cabinet at its meeting on 25 October 2011 approved 325 billion baht financial package. Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister has proposed securing additional funding of around 600 billion baht through the enactment of a loans act to support the construction and the restoration of the country’s infrastructure with a view to preventing future flood and drought in a sustainable manner.
3. The Government has been informed by companies located in the affected areas that they would continue to employ the 500,000 Thai workers affected by the flood. The Government would also provide assistance to the affected workers.
After the briefing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs distributed a document summarizing the Government’s Relief and Recovery Plan and Package to the Diplomatic Corps and International Organizations. The document is also available online at /internet/document/6772.pdf
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th