The newly appointed Industry Minister, Chakramon Phasukavanich, aims to promote the Southern Border Special Economic Zone; the Rubber Industrial Estate in Songkhla’s Hat Yai, and the Halal Industrial Estate in Pattani. Mr.Chakramon said that his priority tasks are addressing economic problems in the five southernmost provinces. Previously, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had ordered the shortening of the time required for permit approvals, especially the manufacturing operations permit (Ror. Ngor. 4). The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is now contemplating new laws to govern such permits. Therefore, the Ministry has had to revise its procedures in line with the new laws.