Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday said that he planned to open a floating market in the Khlong Prem Prachakorn canal next to Government House in Bangkok.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, left, opens a quality orchid market next to Government House on Monday. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
He ordered Gen Wilas Arunsri, secretary-general to the prime minister, to implement the idea on their way back to Government House after he opened a weekly orchid market by the canal.
Gen Prayut wants the floating market to be developed in front of Government House adjacent to Rajamangala University of Technology's Phra Nakhon campus. He said he wanted people to shop at the floating market and vendors to have another place for product sales. He ordered Gen Wilas to arrange for a good parking lot for visitors to the floating market.
"I am serious about it. This is a creative idea that will be certainly be realised," the prime minister said.
The orchid market that Gen Prayut opened will continue on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays until the end of March to promote Thai orchids.
He said that Thailand was the world's second biggest source of tropical orchids and would use other substances instead of methyl bromide for fumigation to revive its orchid exports.