COBRA GOLD
PRASIT TANGPRASERT
NAKHON RATCHASIMA : The Cobra Gold war games, which started yesterday, are expected to generate more than 500 million baht revenue for the provinces where the joint exercise takes place. Nakhon Ratchasima alone could reap 50 million baht from the troops, mostly from lodging and entertainment, one Korat businessman said.
Business communities were upbeat about the anticipated windfall, he said.
The joint military exercise, codenamed Cobra Gold 08 began at the 1st Wing headquarters in Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday.
The exercise was launched jointly by Deputy Supreme Commander Gen Montri Sangkhasap and US Deputy Chief of Mission James Entwistle.
Begun in 1956 as part of Thai and US military cooperation, the joint exercise this year involves 11,631 soldiers from the US, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand.
It will continue until May 21.
From Nakhon Ratchasima the training exercises move on to Chon Buri, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Buri Ram, Surat Thani and some areas of Bangkok.
The source estimated that spending by the participants will top 500 million baht.
Orachai Poonnanithi, managing director of Panjadara hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima, said rooms at some local hotels were almost fully booked for the whole period of the joint exercise in the province.
Last year when the coup-installed government was in power, Cobra Gold was scaled back and focussed on multinational peacekeeping operations.
Mr Entwistle said this year's Cobra Gold was particularly significant.
''The return to a democratically-elected government has allowed our military relationship with Thailand to flourish once again,'' he said.
Mr Entwistle added that this year's joint military training was also ''truly a regional affair''.
There were representatives from more than 20 countries participating, observing or supporting the training manoeuvres.
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