Nakhon Phanom: The Prime Minister has announced his full recovery ahead of unveiling the outcomes of the mobile Cabinet meeting held in Nakhon Phanom. He approved nine projects from the Upper Northeastern Provinces Group 2 and the private sector, with a budget allocation of 400 million baht aimed at developing the area and enhancing the landscape along the Mekong River. This initiative seeks to transform the region into a metropolis of botanical medicine. Additionally, the issuance of charity lotteries was approved to fund scholarships for seven ODOS projects, with a budget exceeding 5 billion baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, led the Cabinet in making a statement after the 2nd/2025 off-site meeting in Nakhon Phanom Province. When questioned by the media about her health, the Prime Minister responded with a smile, “I’m recovered. Thank you. That’s all I can say. I’m not sure myself.”
The Prime Minister disclosed that the meeting agreed with the National Economic and Social Development Board’s proposal, which included four projects from the provincial groups with a budget of 200 million baht, and five projects from the private sector or the Provincial Group of Provincial Administration, also with a budget of 200 million baht. These projects aim to allocate the central budget for 2025 towards area development and landscape improvement along the Mekong River, with the goal of upgrading the city to support health tourism in the Mekong River Basin.
The meeting also endorsed the Ministry of Finance’s proposal to issue charity lotteries. This initiative will support scholarships to enhance the One District One Scholarship (ODOS) project’s potential, which passed the first round of consideration. The approved budget amounts to 5,308.14 million baht and covers seven projects, including scholarships and short-term technology training abroad. These opportunities will be extended to representatives from 878 districts nationwide and all 50 districts in Bangkok. The projects encompass 60 vocational certificate scholarships and 140 bachelor’s degree scholarships abroad, 60 undergraduate scholarships in the United States for science and technology programs, 50 undergraduate scholarships in the United Kingdom for similar programs, and 90 scholarships in Australia divided into vocational and bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, there will be domestic undergraduate scholarships for 2,200 individuals in science and technology programs, as well as high school and vocation
al certificate scholarships for 4,800 individuals in similar fields.