Surin Province: The Venue for the Upcoming Mobile Cabinet Meeting

(26/07/2012)

Surin province in the Northeast will be the venue for the sixth mobile Cabinet meeting under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration on 29-30 July 2012. The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Regional Joint Public/Private Sector Consultative Committee and governors of eight northeastern provinces at Thong Tarin Hotel in Mueang district on 29 July. The Cabinet meeting will take place at Surin Rajabhat University on 30 July. According to Surin Governor Nirun Kanlayanamit, the Prime Minister will visit a rice mill and present agricultural credit to farmers in Roi Et in the afternoon of 29 July, before proceeding to Surin for the meeting of the Regional Joint Public/Private Sector Consultative Committee and governors of eight provinces in the lower northeastern region. After the Cabinet meeting in the morning of 30 July, the Prime Minister will visit the Surin Elephant Study Center in Tha Tum district and view an elephant show in the afternoon. The private sector in Surin has prepared several development projects for the Cabinet to consider. One of them involves logistics development to facilitate goods transportation to neighboring countries. Local residents have called for the development of more water sources for agriculture, especially rice farming. Surin province is expected to propose 10 projects, worth 100 million baht to the Cabinet. The projects include the construction of flood walls to prevent inundation, road construction and improvement, and wildlife sanctuary management. The population of Surin is 1.38 million, with about 342,000 households. Ninety percent of the population live outside the Surin Municipality and subdistrict municipalities. There are 718 Buddhist temples, 24 Christian churches, and one mosque. Surin is famous for organic Hom Mali rice, or Thai jasmine rice. The brand of Hom Mali is well known worldwide, especially in the high-end market. Thung Kula Ronghai is a major area for the cultivation of Hom Mali rice. The area spreads over five northeastern provinces, namely Surin, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Si Sa Ket, and Yasothon. About 450 kilometers from Bangkok and 50 kilometers from the Cambodian border, Surin is an ancient historical province from the Khmer period. This province is regarded as the land of elephants, and it is world famous for its annual Elephant Round-up, scheduled for November. Hom Mali Rice Day and Silk Fabric Festival is held in January each year by the Surin Provincial Administration. The province is also known for its fine silk and notable silver beads. There are numerous ancient Khmer sanctuaries, which testify to the historical significance of this province.