Bangkok: The Prime Minister held a meeting with the heads of government agencies, urging them to work collaboratively without barriers and to focus on accelerating the disbursement of the 2025 budget, which is currently 18% below the target. The Prime Minister outlined three key priorities: addressing the dust problem, strengthening Thai-Chinese relations, and combating drugs and cybercrimes.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting, chaired by Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, took place at the Royal Thai Police Office and included permanent secretary-level officials from various government departments. The Prime Minister welcomed new attendees and emphasized the importance of developing close working relationships to effectively implement policies for the public's benefit.
The Prime Minister highlighted the need to revisit and follow up on the policy assignments made during the Thai Real Opportunity Event in December 2024. Despite good progress in budget disbursement by several ministries, the overall rate remains low. The Prime Minister urged all units to expedite spending to create more opportunities for the nation, aligning with the recent economic stimulus initiative, the 10,000 baht project, Phase 2.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister instructed ministries to prepare their budget requests for the 2026 fiscal year with a focus on efficiency and alignment with government priorities. With a limited budget anticipated, the Prime Minister stressed the need for careful consideration of projects based on urgency and impact.
Addressing specific challenges, the Prime Minister called on agencies to tackle the dust problem in Thailand, highlighting preparations under the ASEAN framework to mitigate its effects. Strengthening diplomatic ties with China was also emphasized, with plans to expand sister-city relations and expedite infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of addressing security concerns, particularly drug issues and cybercrimes. The Royal Thai Police and related agencies were urged to act swiftly on these matters, with a revised draft Cyber Decree expected to be implemented soon for public benefit.