The Prime Minister, wearing traditional Mudmee silk clothing, led the Cabinet meeting held in Udon Thani, establishing agricultural policy as a national agenda. He highlighted the successful organization of the World Horticultural Expo and instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to monitor reports that supermarkets in parts of Europe were hacked, leading to shutdowns of cold storage systems and damage to goods.
At 08:30 on 3 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Anutin Charnvirakul, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, along with the Cabinet, walked from the Moko Hotel in Udon Thani, their accommodation, to the Montathip International Convention Hall in Udon Thani city to chair the second official offsite Cabinet meeting of 2026 (Cabinet on Tour).
The Prime Minister and Cabinet members wore Mudmee silk, a signature woven fabric of Udon Thani province, in deep indigo naturally dyed and woven with a four-shuttle technique creating the unique 'glass bead' pattern. The fabric was then decorated with key traditional motifs of the province, arranged meaningfully on the garments.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister toured booths and exhibitions, including the Ban Chiang painted pottery group, where he signed a pottery jar. He then visited the Agricultural Innovation Center booth of the Ouan Glom Happy Farm Community Enterprise, where the shop presented a natural pigment portrait of the Prime Minister painted on paper made from water hyacinth fibers.
The Prime Minister then took a group photo with the Cabinet, governors from the upper northeastern provinces—Udon Thani, Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, and Bueng Kan—as well as representatives from various government agencies.
At 09:00, the Prime Minister chaired the Cabinet meeting and opened by stating, “We are holding this Cabinet on Tour in Udon Thani because of its importance, especially with the recent opening on 2 Nov of the World Horticultural Expo here. Since all Cabinet members were invited to the opening ceremony, we agreed to hold the meeting concurrently. You all witnessed the grandeur and significance of the event, organized with great dedication by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Udon Thani province, and related agencies. The event is expected to attract government and private sector agencies, as well as Thai and international tourists, to learn agricultural technology over approximately 134 days, or nearly four and a half months. Therefore, I urge ministers and relevant agencies, particularly the Ministries of Tourism and Sports, Culture, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Natural Resources and Environment, and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, to support public relations efforts so the public and visitors can benefit from the event’s knowledge offerings.”
The Prime Minister continued, expressing gratitude to all involved agencies. When the government took office, there were concerns about whether the World Horticultural Expo could be successfully held, but everyone recognized the event’s importance and worked hard to ensure its success. At this meeting in Udon Thani, he aimed to set agricultural policies as a national agenda, emphasizing agriculture’s vital role in Thai society and livelihoods. The agenda must have clear goals and full government support, preparing product and raw material prices to create added value. Agriculture is both a food source and a future energy source, and the government will advance major economic crops simultaneously.
“This morning’s news reported an unusual cybercrime event affecting supermarket networks selling food in parts of Europe. Cybercriminals used software to disable their information systems, shutting down cold storage and causing temperature rises that spoiled many products. This was not limited to a single store but affected the entire system, causing significant damage. This news is circulating on social media and reports but has not yet been verified. I have asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to investigate the truth of this cyberattack, how feasible such hacking is, and its implications. Thailand is a major agricultural exporter, so we must be vigilant about payment systems and other processes. If such incidents occur, operators and distributors face major losses. This is a serious technology-related crime and must be declared as such,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that simultaneously, there are increasing opportunities in food production. The government’s policy emphasizes establishing Thailand as a country with food security capable of meeting domestic demand and exporting worldwide, generating income and opportunities for Thai people. He urged all relevant sectors to monitor the situation and collaborate on policies to ensure food security for maximum national benefit.
The Prime Minister informed the Cabinet that last week, foreign private investors made substantial investments in Thailand. Senior executives contacted the Board of Investment (BOI) seeking meetings with him, which he welcomed. These large industrial investors bring massive capital. When asked why they chose Thailand over other countries, the primary reasons were Thailand’s superior transportation infrastructure, internationally recognized fair laws, and a skilled workforce educated in relevant fields, capable of adopting technology and creating jobs under their support. Previously, labor cost was a factor, but now stability in energy and utilities at industrial estates and production sites is more crucial. Investors praised Thais’ ability to learn and train in technology, requiring only a few experts to transfer knowledge. All investors presented multi-phase plans, some up to five or six phases, showing understanding of advanced technology industries. This is a positive sign, enhancing employment, investment, trade, and export value.
“However, investors noted concerns about procedures, as approval processes involve too many agencies and conflicting policies, causing delays despite eventual approvals. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Akniti Nitithanprapas has instructed the BOI to implement the Thailand Fast Pass policy, ensuring investors who comply with all environmental, labor, and business regulations receive efficient and swift approval coordination. All ministries are urged to cooperate with the BOI to facilitate both domestic and foreign investors. Remember, we chose Udon Thani for this meeting because it has a large farming population producing vast agricultural income for the country. Our clear and direct goal is to increase farmers’ incomes and opportunities, raise the value of Thai agricultural products, and make agriculture a key driver of Thailand’s stable and sustainable economic progress,” the Prime Minister concluded.
