Watcharapol, Deputy Agriculture Minister, is advancing the delivery of 7 rai of land to build a heart disease and organ transplant center at Udon Hospital. He is also promoting four mega projects to transform Udon into a northern Isan economic hub and improve the quality of life for residents.
On 10 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Watcharapol Khawkhum, MP for Udon Thani from the Pheu Thai Party and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, revealed after discussions with the directors of the Udon Thani Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Center, the Udon Thani Fisheries Provincial Office, and executives from Udon Hospital to prepare the handover of 7 rai of Fisheries Department land to Udon Hospital. The Udon Thani Fisheries Office will request the return of the land to the Treasury Department following official procedures. Then, Udon Hospital will apply to use the land through the Treasury Department to build a premium specialty center for heart disease and organ transplants, including modern patient recovery rooms. This collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Public Health aims to enhance the health system and quality of life for people in Udon Thani and nearby provinces, enabling quick access to treatment for complex and critical illnesses.
Watcharapol further disclosed that during recent Cabinet meetings, he pushed four main strategic projects to drive and lay the foundation for regional development in the Upper Northeastern provincial cluster 1 (Sabaidee group). These projects were presented at the Cabinet’s mobile session on 3 Nov 2026 GMT+7 to enhance social and economic quality of life, positioning Udon Thani as a tourism center and a distribution hub for exports via the Thai-Lao-China railway route in Upper Isan.
The four main strategic projects to drive and establish regional development foundations in the Upper Northeastern provincial cluster 1 (Sabaidee group) include:
1. Development of a premium specialty center for heart disease and organ transplants at Udon Thani Hospital.
2. Construction of the Udon Thani Medical Center Hospital and establishment of the Boromarajonani Institute, Udon Thani Campus.
3. Installation of a fixed X-ray system to inspect shipping containers at the Inland Container Depot/UD Yard in the industrial estate.
4. Establishment of the Future Food Innovation Center and a food standard analysis laboratory for the Upper Northeastern provincial cluster 1 (Sabaidee Future Food Innovation Lab: FFIL).
Meanwhile, Watcharapol confirmed that integrating these four projects marks a crucial step in connecting medical services, education, agricultural innovation, logistics, and tourism. This synergy aims to strengthen the economy and develop Udon Thani as a sustainable trade hub linking Thailand, Laos, and China in the Upper Northeastern region.