Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will outlay plans to create a stronger foundation for future governments when he makes his first policy address to parliament on Friday.
Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives at Government House on Wednesday before leading cabinet ministers to pay respects to the Supreme Patriarch at the National Office of Buddhism in Buddha Monthon disrict, Nakhon Pathom province. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
"The government will lay a solid foundation for successive governments to know which direction our country will go in, and what will or will not happen in the near future so that they can be better prepared," Gen Prayuth said in a 23-page policy statement released Wednesday.
The prime minister, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order, will address the National Legislative Assembly on Sept 12 to outline his cabinet's goals, which focus on overhauling all levels of the administration and boosting the economy.
The policy statement calls for the streamlining of local, regional and national bureaucracies to improve efficiency and decentralise power.
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The statement also makes clear the NCPO is setting the priorities for economic development, particularly its plans for infrastructure improvements. The junta leader wants to see faster disbursement and spending of ministry investment budgets, better tax collection and improved performance by state enterprises.
Yet the general, who retires as army chief at month's end, said the private sector will be allowed a greater role in investment projects.
The government will speed approval of projects considered beneficial to the public, he said, adding that ''Infrastructure projects with potential, such as those related to mass transit in Bangkok, will be carried out through public-private partnerships to improve the investment climate in the construction, real estate and financial sectors."
All of the government's projects apparently will begin under continued martial law. The policy statement does not specify when it will be lifted, stating only that "serious" steps will be taken to alleviate the impact of martial law on areas whose economies rely on foreign tourism.
Before Friday's address, Gen Prayuth will also delegated responsibilities to his 25 cabinet ministers, who include five deputy prime ministers. The deputies were warned that anyone not meeting performance expectations will be ejected from the cabinet, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyut Yuttawong said.
Mr Yongyut was given the Education, Public Health, Science and Technology, and Social Development and Human Security ministries to oversee.
Gen Prawit Wongsuwon is responsible for security affairs, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula for economic affairs, Gen Tanasak Patimaprakorn for foreign affairs, and Wissanu Krue-ngam for legal affairs and regulations.