The decision was made by the Regional Joint Public/Private Sector Consultative Committee, during its meeting on 18 June 2012, as part of the fifth mobile Cabinet meeting in Pattaya, Chonburi, chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Transport was entrusted with studying the construction of a high-speed train system in eastern Thailand, and it was also asked to complete working out the terms of reference for the project by 2013. The Ministry was also assigned to conduct a feasibility study on the expansion of traffic lanes for Highway 36 and Highway 317. Results of the study will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration in the next three weeks.
As for tourism promotion, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was assigned to work with the Ministry of Transport in conducting a study on the construction of a road around Koh Chang, or Elephant Island, on Ban Bang Bao-Ban Salak Phet section, in Trat province. Results of the study will be submitted to the National Environment Board and later to the Cabinet for consideration.
The Ministry of Education was instructed to work with the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the private sector in arranging English courses to develop language skills for Thai workers. The Ministry of Finance was told to offer incentives for the private sector through the corporate social responsibility system.
