On Friday, March 29, 2024, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) by Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, together with Mr. Suthiket Thatpitak-Kul, Deputy Secretary General, Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), chaired the meeting to clarify guidelines for providing support and participation in forest management projects to reduce PM_2.5 problems sustainably for entrepreneurs and private sector to invite them to join the project.

Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat said that the government, led by the Prime Minister of Thailand (H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin) attached great importance in preventing and solving the problems of forest fires, haze, and PM_2.5. Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has given policies and orders to solve the problems by working with all sectors, both ministries and departments at central and local level; working with provincial governors and local government organizations to connect with the people who are the source of the particulate matter generation and to take care of the people who were affected. To make operations efficient, MNRE created a mechanism for the private sector to join in supporting the resolution of forest fire problems by consulting with BOI to initiate a mobilization for entrepreneurs and private sector to participate in supporting problem-solving and reducing government budget constraints. An announcement of the Board of Investment No. 1/2024 on Investment Promotion Measure for Social and Local Development was issued to raise the level of the environment through forest management and sustainable reduction of PM_2.5 problems. The announcement covers areas of national reserved forests, protected forests, and community forests through 1) support tools and equipment to extinguish forest fires, 2) training to transfer knowledge on forest fire prevention and control, 3) construction of forest fire monitoring points, 4) processing of fuel materials from forests and agricultural areas in forest areas to create added value, and 5) promotion of forest production into the household sector for trade and reduction of forest fires. Ultimately, investments from the private sector that have been invested in the government sector will be transferred to community organizations and people in the area, which is considered to increase the efficiency of forest fire prevention and control. Entrepreneurs participating in the project will receive rights and benefits of exemption from the corporate income tax.

MNRE is committed to solving the problems of forest fires, haze, and PM_2.5 to achieve concrete results by working with the BOI to invite entrepreneurs and the private sector to jointly support the forest management projects to reduce PM_2.5 problems to jointly create Thailand with clean air – free from dust and haze in a sustainable manner, Mr. Jatuporn said.