Over 28,000 projects eye NESDC aid

Some 28,425 projects worth up to 593 billion baht have applied for a 400-billion-baht budget set for economic and social rehabilitation, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

Those projects belong to state agencies and local administrative organisations. They exclude proposals of the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand worth 8-12 billion baht.

Thosaporn Sirisamphand, secretary-general of the NESDC, said a majority of the proposed projects deal with local economy development such as community businesses, One Tambon One Product, community tourism and small-scale infrastructure development, which together tallied 28,331 projects worth a combined 373 billion baht.

Mr Thosaporn said the agency has developed the website http://thaime.nesdc.go.th to allow the public, civil society, as well as the UN Development Programme to provide their suggestions and opinions on those projects.

"All proposed projects will be listed on the website where the public can propose their ideas on each project during June 8-15 regarding project value, benefits, suitability and viability," he said.

The NESDC is scheduled to start screening after that and propose projects to the cabinet by July 7.

The projects will be implemented from July and state agencies are required to complete projects within fiscal 2021, or the end of September 2021.

The NESDC on May 25 approved a guideline for the 400 billion baht slated for economic and social rehabilitation under the government's 1.9-trillion-baht relief measure approved by the cabinet in April to soften the economic blow from the deadly virus outbreak.

The 400 billion baht will be allocated mainly to four groups: future sustainable growth sectors such as smart agriculture, large-scale farming, food processing, bio-economy and tourism; local economic development; household and private consumption stimulus; and small-scale infrastructure.