Five Southern Border Provinces Propose 44 Projects Worth 8.96 Billion Baht

Five southern border provinces have presented 44 development projects totaling 8.956 billion baht at a preparatory meeting for the first off-site Cabinet session of 2026, held on August 9 at Songkhla Provincial Hall. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn chaired the meeting to screen and prepare project proposals while establishing development strategies for Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces. The goal was to ensure proposals are comprehensive, clearly articulated, and reflect the needs and potential of each area.

Songkhla proposed five projects worth 395.5 million baht focusing on infrastructure and economic activities, including cultural heritage development and riverbank protection. Satun submitted 18 projects valued at 209 million baht emphasizing infrastructure, dredging, port improvements, and tourism, with proposals for a shipping route connecting Satun, Penang, and Langkawi. Yala proposed six projects for 265 million baht aimed at infrastructure development, sports facilities, water management, and border trade promotion. Pattani submitted six projects worth 7.683 billion baht to establish itself as a southern logistics hub for water, land, and rail transport, including dredging and rail infrastructure to connect Malaysia and Indonesia. Narathiwat proposed nine projects valued at 404 million baht including highway expansions, bridge construction, road network development, and comprehensive flood mitigation in the Yateng River basin.