Nakhon ratchasima: Prime Minister Suriya is proposing to the Cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima to relocate the 2029 World Horticultural Expo from Khong District to Pak Chong District. This follows a study by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) indicating a more cost-effective move and a reduction in infrastructure investment burden. Meanwhile, eight districts in the northern zone are gathering today to protest, insisting the event must remain in Khong District as originally planned. They have declared that if the Cabinet approves the relocation, they will escalate their protests, even to the point of blocking the Mittraphap Highway.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, revealed that at the official Cabinet meeting held outside Bangkok in Songkhla Province today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will propose a change of venue for the 2029 Nakhon Ratchasima World Horticultural Exposition from Khong District to Pak Chong District. This decision follows the resolution of the Nakhon Ratchasima World Horticultural Exposition Organizing Committee after reviewing the cost-benefit analysis conducted by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). The matter needs to be expedited to meet the submission deadline to the International Association of Horticultural Provincial Associations (AIPH) on September 4th.
The review of the venue came after the Prime Minister assigned the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) to study and compare the suitability of the two areas. The NESDC visited Pak Chong District and the Dairy Research and Development Center in Pak Chong District before concluding that Pak Chong District was more prepared in terms of transportation, hospitals, accommodation, and public utilities.
According to a study by the NESDC, if the event is still held in Khong District, the initial budget for site preparation and infrastructure construction will be approximately 3,800-4,000 million baht. An additional investment of approximately 4,000-5,000 million baht may be needed for hospitals, accommodation, roads, and other facilities to support participants, potentially increasing the total investment to nearly 10,000 million baht.
While relocating to Pak Chong District would allow the use of existing infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, hotels, and utilities, the NESDC estimates that this would reduce additional investment by approximately 4-5 billion baht. Furthermore, the proposed venue is under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, eliminating the need to purchase or lease land, although there might be costs for improvements or replacement construction of around 100 million baht.
Meanwhile, residents from eight northern districts of Nakhon Ratchasima are preparing to gather today to protest the relocation of the event. They insist on holding the event in Khong District as originally planned, stating that local residents and businesses have been preparing for the event for years, including homestays, restaurants, community products, and related businesses. They are concerned that the relocation will result in a loss of investment opportunities.
Opponents argue that the original goal of selecting the district for the event was to distribute economic opportunities and develop infrastructure to the northern zone of Nakhon Ratchasima, which has been less developed than other areas. They also point out that using infrastructure shortcomings as a reason for relocation may further deprive underdeveloped areas of opportunities, while the government has already spent over a hundred million baht on developing irrigation systems in the area.
The leaders of the protesting group announced that if the Cabinet approves the relocation of the event from Khong District to Pak Chong District, they will escalate their movement by mobilizing people to protest and block the Mittraphap Highway. They insisted that the 2029 Royal Flora Ratchaphruek must be held in Khong District as originally planned.
Previously, Mr. Suriya denied suggestions that relocating the project to Pak Chong district might benefit local investors in Khao Yai, insisting that the proposed change of location was in accordance with the feasibility study conducted by the NESDC.
If the Cabinet approves the change of venue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will proceed with the necessary steps to ensure timely submission to AIPH on September 4th, confirming Thailand's readiness to host the 2029 World Horticultural Exposition in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Paijit Manasilp, President of the Nakhon Ratchasima Chamber of Commerce, commented on the proposal to change the venue for the 2029 Nakhon Ratchasima International Horticultural Exposition from the original site at Khok Nong Rang Ka, Khong District, to Pak Chong District, stating that there are two important perspectives to consider regarding the suitability of the area.
Alternative locations in Pak Chong District include the Swine Research and Development Center, the Animal Breeding Division of the Department of Livestock Development, and the Animal Bioproduct Technology Division of the Department of Livestock Development, both situated along the Mittraphap Highway on the Bangkok-bound side. Considering the cost-effectiveness of the investment, Pak Chong District has an advantage due to its existing infrastructure and facilities, including transportation systems, hotels, accommodations, and hospitals, thus reducing the need for additional government investment.
However, when considering which area would create a greater economic impact and distribute benefits to surrounding areas, Mr. Paijit believes that Khong District might yield more positive results. This is because the event would help accelerate investment and infrastructure development, including road expansion, public health systems, irrigation systems, and other infrastructure that can be continuously utilized even after the event concludes.
Mr. Paijit stated that, according to information received from the private sector, holding the event in Khong District would require an additional investment of approximately 6 billion baht in infrastructure development. Combined with the event's budget of over 4.2 billion baht, the total related investment would reach approximately 10 billion baht. However, this infrastructure investment is not solely for the purpose of supporting the World Horticultural Expo; many projects are already part of the government's planned projects, and the event will simply accelerate their completion.
Partial budget implementation began in 2026, with plans for continuation during 2027-2028. The event at Khok Nong Rang Ka, Khong District, also has the opportunity to distribute tourists and economic activities to nearby districts and other provinces in the Northeast, such as Buriram, Chaiyaphum, and Khon Kaen.
Mr. Paijit believes that one of the goals of organizing the World Horticultural Expo is to distribute income to local people. Therefore, holding it in Pak Chong District, which is already well-equipped and has a steady stream of tourists, might yield different economic results than holding it in Khong District, which still has the potential to benefit from further investment and infrastructure development.
Mr. Paijit said that regardless of which area the Cabinet decides to choose, the most important thing is to ensure that the World Horticultural Expo takes place as scheduled in 2029. With only about three years left for preparation, it is a challenge that requires all parties to work together closely to achieve.
If the Cabinet decides to change the location from Khong District to Pak Chong District, a fast-track planning process will be necessary. This includes coordinating with the International Association of Horticultural Society (AIPH), developing a master plan, and construction, to ensure that preparations are completed within the timeframe and to international standards.
The proposal to change the venue is scheduled to be considered by the Cabinet today in order to be reported to the AIPH meeting on September 4.