Bangkok: The Cabinet has approved a review of its previous resolution to relocate the Korat World Horticultural Expo from Khong District to Pak Chong District, based on a cost-effectiveness study conducted by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Cabinet meeting approved a review of the Cabinet resolutions of November 16, 2021, and January 4, 2022, regarding the venue for the Nakhon Ratchasima International Horticultural Exposition in 2029. The venue will be changed from the Kok Nong Rang Ka public forest in Thep Phalai Subdistrict, Khong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, to the Dairy Research and Development Center in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, as proposed by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and related agencies, following the conclusion of a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed site.
According to Thai News Agency, the NESDB's assessment took into account factors related to event organization, including transportation, infrastructure, accommodation, medical facilities, and visitor capacity, as well as the readiness of the venue. Since Pak Chong is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, no additional land purchase is required, thus reducing the long-term burden on the government budget.
The Cabinet approved the expedited preparation of a Master Plan and a Legacy Plan for managing and utilizing the area after the event, in order to ensure that the site preparation is appropriate, cost-effective, and can be used continuously after the event ends.
In terms of budget, the framework for the event remains unchanged at 4,281 million baht, as per the Cabinet resolution of January 4, 2022. Meanwhile, a central budget of 88.33 million baht is allocated for hiring a master plan and detailed design for the event venue, and 6 million baht for reviewing readiness and preparing documents to propose a new venue. This budget is to support operations following the site adjustments.
Captain Patradarasmie said that the change of venue requires urgent action within the timeframe for event certification. Thailand must coordinate with relevant agencies to demonstrate the readiness of the new venue to the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) by September 4, 2026, and seek approval from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) by October 6, 2026, as per procedure. With the event scheduled to open on November 10, 2029, the venue must be prepared quickly to meet the required standards and timeframe.
Furthermore, the Cabinet acknowledged the official name change of the event, in accordance with BIE requirements, from the original 'Nakhon Ratchasima International Horticultural Expo 2029' or 'Korat Expo 2029' to 'International Horticultural Expo 2029 Korat Thailand' or 'Expo 2029 Korat Thailand', to align with the standards and official documents in the international event certification process.
For the Khong District area, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) suggests that Nakhon Ratchasima Province and related agencies expedite the development of land use plans for the areas already prepared. This should allow for the participation of the public, farmers, and stakeholders in the area in determining the direction, so that the area can be further developed to create sustainable livelihoods, income, and quality of life for the people in the area.