[Thailand] NESDB-World Bank join forces to solve Thailand's poverty

From MCOT

BANGKOK, Dec 21 (TNA) – The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has joined hands with the World Bank to outline an approach aimed to effectively solve the poverty problem in Thailand.

NESDB’s Secretary-General Ampon Kitti-ampon on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ian C. Potter, Director of the World Bank’s Representative Office in Bangkok, on preparation of the cooperation program on the poverty analysis and evaluation.

The program is aimed at strengthening the Thai government’s efforts to solve the poverty and boosting technical cooperation, system development and experience exchange.

On the approach to coping with the poverty, he said, the two sides would exchange personnel with each other.

For instance, NESDB officials will be sent to get training at the World Bank and the bank officials will be invited to work in Thailand to exchange the working approach.

Normally, Thailand seeks loan assistance from the World Bank.

Under this program, Thai officials will join hands with the World Bank’s officials to survey the poverty in each area and heed suggestions on ways to solve the problem by community leaders.

After that, they will propose the approach to solving the poverty to the government for consideration.

The joint performance will be incorporated in Thailand's
10th National Economic and Social Development Plan.

The number of the poor in the kingdom has markedly dropped to 7.1 million or 11.3 per cent of the population in 2004, from 23.5 million or 44.9 per cent in 1988.

The country's per capita income last year averaged 1,500 baht per month.

Mr. Potter said efforts to solve the poverty in Thailand need to take time and must be made in a clear and well-managed manner.