Nakhon Ratchasima: A "Korat Smart City" campaign has been rolled out to promote a cashless society in the northeastern province.
Governor Wichian Chantharanothai presided over a ceremony yesterday to launch the campaign at Talat Rom Khiew market in front of the provincial hall. Nakhon Ratchasima is also known as Korat after a local ethnic group.
The project is initially aimed at promoting the marketing of local products made by members of a fund set up to empower women in the province.
During the campaign, products can be purchased using online platforms such as QR Code scanning or money transfers made via bank applications.
Mr Wichian said it is intended to upgrade the province to a smart and cashless city to prepare for its reopening on Dec 1.
Online payments for goods and services will not only be more convenient but help reduce crime and prevent Covid-19 transmissions, he said.
In the first phase of the campaign, the target is to make 80-100% of transactions cashless at several locations. These include Talat Rom Khiew, Blue Flag shops, the May Fair market, Class Cafe, Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality market, and at least one market in each district.
In the second and third phases, the plan is to promote cashless transactions at all shops and markets next year, Mr Wichian said.
Meanwhile, workers from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) yesterday removed electrical poles in front of Talat Mae Kim Heng on Ratchadamnoen Road in the province's municipality as part of the PEA's ''Wireless Korat City'' project.
Prasit Chanprasit, assistant governor of the PEA's Region 3, said the PEA started putting overhead electrical cables underground on 21 roads in the province covering 17.37 kilometres in September 2019. The project costs about 2.4 billion baht, he said.