The Prime Minister announced the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting in Songkhla, emphasizing the development of the economies of five southern provinces to grow according to their potential. The government will use AI to improve border checkpoint security and plans the next Cabinet meeting tour in Udon Thani.
At 12:25 on 1 September 2026, at Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai campus, Songkhla province, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, announced the results of the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet set urgent guidelines, called Quick Win, for related agencies to implement immediately, covering four key areas: economy, society, security, and disaster management. Economically, the government aims for the five southern border provinces—Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Satun—to grow based on their own potential. They will expedite lifting obstacles hindering business operations, with provincial governors leading and supporting efforts. The Ministry of Finance will review financial and tax matters, especially regarding special-purpose low-interest loans (Soft Loans), to provide local people with income opportunities. Socially and in quality of life, the government will address poverty and support vulnerable groups. It has assigned the design and construction of a second Hatyai hospital with an initial budget of 250 million baht and plans talks with Malaysia to ensure Thai workers receive proper protection and care while reducing business operators' costs.
Mr. Anutin stated that on security, the government will advance security alongside development. The key is that the state must work together with the people, not separately. It will enhance security networks in the area, develop security infrastructure, and apply modern technology including AI to improve security and management at border checkpoints. The goal is to create peace, safety, and confidence so people can live and do business securely. Regarding disaster prevention and management, the government has urgently allocated over 142 million baht to improve disaster prevention and relief. This includes building temporary shelters in Pattani, improving drainage systems in Hatyai municipality and Khuan Rang municipality in Songkhla. The government also approved improvements to the Khlong Rian monkey cheek detention basin project. Furthermore, it is advancing key projects such as the Songkhla Lake Bridge and the Koh Lanta connecting bridge, which will become important economic routes, significantly reducing living and transportation costs and increasing the area's economic value.
Mr. Anutin said today was the first offsite Cabinet meeting of this government. He observed many positive developments, building understanding and familiarity among officials, including those serving in the southern border provinces across economic, administrative, and security sectors. The meeting gave an opportunity for officials scheduled for position changes in the 2027 fiscal year starting 1 October—replacing retirees and those newly assigned—to meet openly without concealment. This ensures smooth, continuous work without gaps. He said the offsite Cabinet meeting was clearly very successful and suggested such meetings should be held in various regions nationwide. Informally, the next Cabinet tour is planned for the Northeast, possibly starting with Udon Thani as the economic business hub there, aiming to cover as many areas as possible. Initially, meetings will be at the regional level, then moving to provincial or group-of-province levels as time permits.