Thailand could become "First World" developed country: PM

Thailand could potentially upgrade itself from the long-standing status of a Third World developing country to a ''First World'' developed country, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.

In a public statement on the performances of the government during the last two years, Prayut said that Thailand could potentially become a ''First World'' developed country where citizens would make more incomes than today, the political situation would be stabilized and politicians would have good governance.

The prime minister said the Thai economy could be considerably strengthened and prosperity would expand into all parts of the country so the people would thrive and poverty would end.

''The current government today has proceeded into a third stage of the roadmap and has a one-year time to run the country until the time for a general election has come. The government and the NCPO (National Council for Peace and Order) have already had some things done and are getting other things done for the time being. The country now remains in a transitional period during which it would have the opportunity to become a First World developed country,'' said the prime minister, referring to the NCPO which designed the extended roadmap for the Prayut government.

Prayut confirmed that the government has taken measures to combat corruption in government and bureaucratic circles and taken steps to see to it that the country will be run on the basis of good governance and transparency.

He is confident of Thailand's economic potentials which, he said, would turn the country into a hub of land, sea and air transports and logistics under the theme of connectivity with the Mekong River subregion or CLMV region, AEC bloc and other parts of the world.

He said social division caused by political conflict over the past decade has been alleviated since the NCPO managed to maintain public peace and order throughout the country.

''I myself, members of cabinet and particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have worked hard in the international arena to rebuild the country's confidence and identity. We have positively responded, compromised and complied with the expectations and obligations to which we were earlier committed.

''We have adopted constructive and balanced foreign policy and earned the credit as chair of G77 with a total of 134 member countries. We have adhered to universal principles under which we have solved varied problems such as the Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing issue, substandard commercial aviation issue and human and ivory trafficking issues,'' he said. Endit