Recently, at the River Kwai Hotel, Kanchanaburi, NESDB Secretary-General Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul presided over the seminar, entitled "Western Seaboard Development Project (WSB)"
In the opening ceremony, Dr. Sumet disclosed that the WSB will set forth a framework indicating certain areas with promising development potential, as well as indicating explicit guidelines for the following development programs and projects. Focus will be on the border areas so as to ensure mutual benefits to the neighboring countries. The WSB Program will clearly indicate missions of related agencies and development areas, varied by geographical conditions and the actual development potential of local economy, society and environment. All development projects should enhance one another, while avoiding duplicate operations, and cooperation of both public and private sectors should be emphasized for sake of sustainable development.
The WSB Program encompasses Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Samut Songkram, Parchuab Khiri Khan, Chumpon, and six districts of Southern Kanchanaburi such as Muang, Makham Tia, Phanomthuan, Tha Muang, Tha Makha and Huay Kracho subdistrict. These six provinces have, for years. served as a major agricultural zone, but, currently its production efficiency and income of farmers are dropping whereas industrialization has increasingly emerged. The WSB, with linkages with major economic areas of the country, will become another industrial base to the development prosperity decentralization from Bangkok. Realizing the significance of this area, the NESDB's Office has conducted the feasibility studies to map out both short and long term measures, under two major objectives, namely:
1) To set the WSB development direction and projects in the next 15 years, consistent with changes in major economic sectors of this area, including agriculture, industry, trade, tourism, service and society. Any development projects of these sectors should work in harmony, for greater benefits in the future.
2) To prepare public infrastructure investment in line with future economic activities.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has granted technical assistance to this project and dispatched its coordinator for the studies, due to be attained in 14 months, from February, 1996 to March 1997.
This WSB seminar is to consider the draft of the "Western Seaboard Development Policy and Guidelines", under an integrated planning approach and sustainable development concept. Participants from both central and local areas will be encouraged to express their opinions for further improvement of the studies' results. Relevant government officials will take these results to map out their action plans that fit the needs of local people and be consistent with the Eighth Plan's development targets.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 11, No.11--
In the opening ceremony, Dr. Sumet disclosed that the WSB will set forth a framework indicating certain areas with promising development potential, as well as indicating explicit guidelines for the following development programs and projects. Focus will be on the border areas so as to ensure mutual benefits to the neighboring countries. The WSB Program will clearly indicate missions of related agencies and development areas, varied by geographical conditions and the actual development potential of local economy, society and environment. All development projects should enhance one another, while avoiding duplicate operations, and cooperation of both public and private sectors should be emphasized for sake of sustainable development.
The WSB Program encompasses Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Samut Songkram, Parchuab Khiri Khan, Chumpon, and six districts of Southern Kanchanaburi such as Muang, Makham Tia, Phanomthuan, Tha Muang, Tha Makha and Huay Kracho subdistrict. These six provinces have, for years. served as a major agricultural zone, but, currently its production efficiency and income of farmers are dropping whereas industrialization has increasingly emerged. The WSB, with linkages with major economic areas of the country, will become another industrial base to the development prosperity decentralization from Bangkok. Realizing the significance of this area, the NESDB's Office has conducted the feasibility studies to map out both short and long term measures, under two major objectives, namely:
1) To set the WSB development direction and projects in the next 15 years, consistent with changes in major economic sectors of this area, including agriculture, industry, trade, tourism, service and society. Any development projects of these sectors should work in harmony, for greater benefits in the future.
2) To prepare public infrastructure investment in line with future economic activities.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has granted technical assistance to this project and dispatched its coordinator for the studies, due to be attained in 14 months, from February, 1996 to March 1997.
This WSB seminar is to consider the draft of the "Western Seaboard Development Policy and Guidelines", under an integrated planning approach and sustainable development concept. Participants from both central and local areas will be encouraged to express their opinions for further improvement of the studies' results. Relevant government officials will take these results to map out their action plans that fit the needs of local people and be consistent with the Eighth Plan's development targets.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 11, No.11--