Thaksin vows to Build Model Farms

Thaksin vows to Build Model Farms: "
Fugitive former Thai PM Thaksin Sinawatra on Tuesday vowed to build two model farms in Cambodia for local farmers to emulate, according to a Tuesday press release from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

Thaksin’s promise came after an address on how to develop Cambodia’s economy after the global economic crisis.
However, no formal confirmation of the amount of money earmarked for the project, but one MEF official said that the issue will be discussed next month.

“To develop agriculture is very important … and is crucial because Cambodia has much potential,” the press release added.
The meeting apparently focused on meeting domestic demand and exporting to other countries, the press release confirmed.

The Thai billionaire telecoms mogul talked about how to develop the impoverished nation’s economy during the worldwide financial crisis and discussed agricultural reform.

Thaksin is living abroad, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption handed down by a Thai court in September 2008.
The visit to Cambodia by Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, has further raised diplomatic tensions with Thailand, which flared last month when Phnom Penh refused to extradite him during his first visit as economic adviser.

The release of Sivarak Chothipong has also strained diplomatic ties between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Thaksin visited Siwarak briefly in prison Sunday.
Thaksin won two elections in Thailand and remains an influential political figure at home, stirring up mass protests by his “Red Shirt” supporters against the current Thai government.