Thailand has approved a nearly 124-million-USD budget hike for defence spending for the fiscal year of 2017 (Photo: Reuters) Hanoi (VNA) - Thailand's parliament signed off on a nearly 124-million-USD budget hike for defence spending, for the fiscal year of 2017.
Accordingly, the army, navy and air force will receive a two-percent raise taking next year's spending to 210.7 billion baht (nearly 6.1 billion USD).
The budget comes into effect in October and runs until September 2017.
It is the third straight year of rises in state spending for defence since the army seized power from the civilian government in 2014.
Meanwhile, the budget for education was given a 4.7 percent cut to 493 billion baht (14.1 billion USD) and transport was cut by two thirds to 63.5 billion baht.
The budget will be spent based on laws and rules to maintain the country's fiscal discipline, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-Ngam said in televised comments at the end of the vote.-VNA
