Expo 2020 Ayutthaya !!!

Le gouvernement thaïlandais pourrait abandonner sa candidature pour l'Expo 2020, face au besoin d'investir des dizaines de milliards de Baht dans de nouveaux bâtiments et de nouvelles infrastructures.


Govt may abandon plan to bid for World Expo 2020

The government is considering abandoning the move to continue with the bidding for the World Exposition 2020, citing it has to invest tens of billions of baht in new buildings and infrastructures.

According to Prime Minister's Office Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, the government is assessing the worthiness of the investment for the World Expo bidding. A research team from Kasetsart University has earlier estimated that the government, if selected as the host, may have to spend tens of thousands of baht for the construction of new buildings and infrastructures linking to the event in Ayutthaya.

NNN, a government news agency, quoted the minister as saying that the government is weighing the project's worthiness as it has to clarify the matter to the people.

Meanwhile, Thai Chamber of Commerce Chairman Pongsak Assakul voiced his disappointment that it was a shame that former Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) President Akapol Sorasuchart had planned the project well; but the project has somewhat been stalled after he resigned.

Pongsak said it would be difficult to continue the bid for the grand Expo given the TCEB has yet to pick its new president, adding that Thongchai Sridama, the acting president, lacks full authority to push the project forward.

The five cities that have lodged bids for the World Expo 2020 include Ayutthaya, Thailand; Dubai, UAE; Ekaterinburg, Russia; Izmir, Turkey; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will decide in November this year which country will have the honor of hosting the grand event.