Article 104

PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

The Office of Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) says prolonged violence in the deep South has hurt the performance of CEO governors in the three southernmost provinces.

One year into the CEO governor scheme, the commission says the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have been unable to meet performance targets on a range of fronts.

The provinces had been told to increase the value of border trade by 10%, but were unlikely to reach that target.

The value of border trade in the first nine months of the year stood at 3.9 billion baht while the targeted level was for 4.5 billion baht.

The commission said they were also unlikely to boost tourist revenue by the targeted 5% to 4.6 billion baht.

After nine months, tourist revenue was 2.1 billion baht, less than half the target.

The office's report for Yala said rubber production had fallen despite rising prices because rubber tappers feared for their safety when working in plantations in the early mornings.

Merchants were reluctant to visit the region to buy its durian, longkong and Shokun orange produce, so sales of those fruits were also down.

The bird flu outbreak at the start of 2004 affected poultry exports, which were down 64.6% by value.

The cluster of upper southern provinces, including Chumpon, Ranong, and Surat Thani, raised exports of durian, mangosteen and rambutan 14% above target.

The lower northern cluster, Tak, Phisanulok, Sukothai and Uttaradit, boosted tourist revenue by 8% and raised processed agricultural product value by 11%.

The eastern cluster, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chantaburi, and Trat boosted agricultural product value to 1.3 billion baht, 37.6% above target.

The lower northeastern cluster, Nakon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram and Surin increased exports of jasmine rice to 340,000 tonnes, 30% above target.