Middle East War Situation Centre formed to deal with fallout from Iran war

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has set up a Middle East War Situation Administration Centre to deal with fallouts from the war in the Middle East which impact Thailand.

Headed by Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, with the prime minster serving as an advisor, the centre comprises the ministers of defence, foreign affairs, energy, commerce and labour, the permanent secretaries of those ministries, the National Security Council, the National Economic and Social Development Council, the Council of State, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Bank of Thailand, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Securities Exchange Commission.

The centre also has representatives from the private sector, among them the Thai Bankers Association, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and PTT Public Company.

The centre is tasked with managing and monitoring the situation in the Middle East, providing recommendations and measures to resolve and mitigate its impact on Thailand and Thais here and overseas.

It is also empowered to instruct government agencies and state enterprises as its think fit in addressing the impacts from the war.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Phiphat said today that the ministry has sought cooperation from public transport operators by freezing fares while the price of diesel is frozen.

The Energy Ministry said earlier that diesel prices will be frozen for at least 15 days.

Vitoon Naewpanich, president of the Association of Taxies, meanwhile, appealed to the government to take short-term measures to help taxi drivers, claiming that taxi fares have been pegged for several years while oil prices have increased steadily.