ID :
148143
Sun, 10/31/2010 - 16:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/148143
The shortlink copeid
PM: Economic ministers to discuss more assistance measures for flood victims
BANGKOK, Oct 31 -- Thailand's economic ministers will discuss Monday likely extra measures to assist flood victims as a number of people who have died in the floods which have devastated Thailand have risen to 101, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday.
Mr Abhisit, who visits flood victims in the central provinces of Sing Buri and Ang Thong on Sunday afternoon, said a special working committee believes that assistance should be tripled to some badly hit areas, depending on the severity of the conditions which confront them.
The government will also accelerate on providing assistance to business operators, rehabilitating economy and to consider on providing debts holidays to agriculturists whose farmland have been hit by the floods, he said.
Mr Abhisit said it is impossible for the government to spend the entire central fund to assist the flood victims due to “limitation.”
The government will have to “revise budget expenditures” for several of its programmes, designed for bolstering national economy, he said.
Admitting that the current flooding problem will negatively impact economic growth, Mr Abhisit said the government will have to step in to compensate farmers initially with at least Bt10 billion (nearly US$335 million)
He ordered the Commerce Ministry to closely monitor on price controls of goods and farm products after their prices have increased sharply following the severe floods, he said.
“Local consumption is not expected to be affected but exports are [due to the floods],” he added. (MCOT online news)
Mr Abhisit, who visits flood victims in the central provinces of Sing Buri and Ang Thong on Sunday afternoon, said a special working committee believes that assistance should be tripled to some badly hit areas, depending on the severity of the conditions which confront them.
The government will also accelerate on providing assistance to business operators, rehabilitating economy and to consider on providing debts holidays to agriculturists whose farmland have been hit by the floods, he said.
Mr Abhisit said it is impossible for the government to spend the entire central fund to assist the flood victims due to “limitation.”
The government will have to “revise budget expenditures” for several of its programmes, designed for bolstering national economy, he said.
Admitting that the current flooding problem will negatively impact economic growth, Mr Abhisit said the government will have to step in to compensate farmers initially with at least Bt10 billion (nearly US$335 million)
He ordered the Commerce Ministry to closely monitor on price controls of goods and farm products after their prices have increased sharply following the severe floods, he said.
“Local consumption is not expected to be affected but exports are [due to the floods],” he added. (MCOT online news)
