(Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has asserted the need for the armed forces to incorporate an offset policy in procuring weapons and military hardware. Under this policy, reciprocal benefits should be secured as a condition for approving a new procurement deal, he said. The prime minister mentioned the government's offset policy to Mr Wallenberg and expressed his wish to see the Swedish jet maker's aircraft technology development be based in Thailand. He said the offset policy should apply even if the air force buys US F-16 fighter jets instead. Mr Sutin said the armed forces will meet later this week to establish a joint working group tasked with implementing the government's so-called military hardware procurement package policy.
