BANGKOK – World Bank Country Director for Thailand, Annette Dixon (far right), attended the ceremony to sign the $79.3 million loan agreement to support Thailand’s highway expansion and management. Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pataraprasit (second from right) presided over the ceremony.

 

The loan was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors back in March. It is part of the Bank’s overall effort to help Thailand sustain high economic growth and improve competitiveness.

The loan agreement provides additional World Bank financing to support the widening of five national highway sections, with a total length of 216 kilometers. The expansion will help Thailand accommodate increased traffic in some of the growing areas in its eastern, northeastern, and southern regions.  

 

Once completed, the widened highways are expected to help reduce the burden on road users, such as travel time and vehicle operating costs, by at least 10 percent.