Thai cabinet nods for purchase of two new aircraft

Thai cabinet has approved in principle a plan to purchase two new aircraft from Brazil to be used for official operations.

The plan, proposed by a government panel chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya, was endorsed by the cabinet at its weekly meeting here on Tuesday, Deputy Government Spokesman Danuporn Punnakan was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.

The Royal Thai Army would partly support the procurement project of the two new aircraft, totally worth 1.0 billion baht ( 25 million US dollars), Danuporn said.

"The Royal Thai Army has earmarked a budget of 100 million baht (2.5 million US dollars) to support the procurement project; so the cabinet has assigned the Ministry of Defense to negotiate with the Brazilian authorities for a barter trade deal worth 900 million baht - the rest of the aircraft price," the spokesman disclosed.

Under the planned barter trade deal, Thailand may ship its rice or other agricultural products to Brazil in exchange for the two new aircraft, Danuporn said.

Source: Xinhua