Transport Ministry Develops Southern Development Master Plan

MGR Online•Economy•12d ago

Reader Briefing

The Ministry of Transport has established a committee to create a Southern Development Master Plan focusing on public participation across 14 provinces.

•Siripong Angkasakulkiat chaired the first meeting of the Southern Development Master Plan Committee on August 31, 2026.
•The committee was appointed via Ministry of Transport Order 1395/2026 dated August 13, 2026, signed by Pipat Ratchakitprakarn.
•The plan aims to integrate infrastructure, logistics, tourism, agriculture, and industry across 14 southern provinces.
•The committee emphasizes a transparent process without predetermined conclusions, utilizing SEA lessons to manage conflict.

Overview

•Siripong Angkasakulkiat presided over the first Southern Development Master Plan Committee meeting on August 31, 2026, in Songkhla Province.
•Pipat Ratchakitprakarn signed Ministry of Transport Order 1395/2026 on August 13, 2026, to appoint the committee.
•The Southern Development Master Plan Committee is tasked with defining policy frameworks and transport development proposals for the southern region.
•Siripong Angkasakulkiat stated the plan will prioritize public hearings and continuous participation across 14 southern provinces.
•The committee aims to use economic data and area potential as a base to prevent conflict and create understanding through factual information.
•The development scope includes connectivity for Wellness, Blue Economy, and BIMSTEC to reduce logistics costs and support community economies.
•The committee decided the study must not have predetermined conclusions and should rely on academic data for decision-making.
•The committee will conduct follow-up meetings to refine the Southern Development Master Plan before presenting the final version to the Cabinet.

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Key Quotes

Siripong Angkasakulkiat

"Draft the plan together with the people of the South, not make a plan for the people of the South."

ร่างแผนไปพร้อมกับคนภาคใต้ไม่ใช่ทำแผนให้คนภาคใต้

Key Entities

Organization

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The government ministry responsible for the Southern Development Master Plan.

Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนการขนส่งและจราจร)ℹ️

The agency headed by Jirarot Sukolrat.

Southern Economic Corridor Study Group (SEC Watch)(กลุ่มศึกษาการพัฒนาเขตเศรษฐกิจพิเศษภาคใต้ (SEC Watch))

A people's sector representative group participating in the committee.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The body to which the final Southern Development Master Plan will be presented.

BIMSTECℹ️

An international entity for which connectivity is being considered in the development plan.

Person

Siripong Angkasakulkiat(สิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport who chaired the Southern Development Master Plan Committee meeting.

Panya Chupanit(ปัญญา ชูพานิช)

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport.

Jirarot Sukolrat(จิรโรจน์ ศุกลรัตน์)

Director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning.

Prasitchai Noonnual(ประสิทธิ์ชัย หนูนวล)