Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
The government plans to provide financial assistance for those in need, particularly grassroots people who will be the first priority.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the assistance.
Rural people will be given priority for financial assistance as part of new measures to reinvigorate the economy, said Somkid Jatusripitak, newly-appointed deputy prime minister in charge of the economy.
RURAL IMPROVEMENT
"In the short run, the immediate task is to provide assistance to the grassroots people, particularly farmers in provinces, to mobilise the economy at its foundations," Somkid said on August 24.
Work was under way to prepare economic measures, which will be tabled at the next cabinet meeting. Boosting local economic activities will help spur on the rest of the country's economy, while assistance packages for farmers will help strengthen rural communities and reduce the inequality gap, he said.
SHARE THE WEALTH
The deputy premier also expressed concern over the country's lack of competitiveness when it comes to its products and exports. "Efforts must be made to improve low-value products," he said.
The country could no longer rely on its exports as it has for decades, Somkid said, and domestic investment would be essential for its future prosperity, particularly in rural provinces. His comments were in line with the government's policy of special economic zones, which aims to distribute economic wealth to those provinces.
HIT THE RICH
Somkid said he would work with officials handling international affairs to hold trade talks with foreign countries. He also urged the private sector to help move the country forward economically, as private and state investment were essential for all provinces to boost their growth.
Thailand's current economic woes are different from the 1997 economic crisis which hit the rich hard but did not affect the poor as much, he said. Now, large firms listed on the stock market have remained strong, while rural people are now in trouble. If rural people are left to struggle for too long, the middle class and rich will also be affected, the deputy premier said.
Exercises
Specify whether each of the following words used is in the story as a verb, adverb, noun or adjective.
1. international
……………….
2. particularly
……………….
3. remained
……………….
4. growth
……………….
Vocabulary
- grassroots (n): ordinary people in society
inequality (n): the unfair difference between groups of people in society
wealth (n): a large amount of money or property that a person owns
boost (v): to make something increase, or become better or more successful
