Five regional chambers of commerce have developed measures to boost the economy, expecting to submit them to Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at a government meeting with the private sector today, the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s president Sanan Angubolkul said.
Such measures include rapid Covid-19 vaccines distribution across the country, assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises, household debt reduction, and extension of the co-payment 50:50 and “shop dee mee kuen” (the more you spend, the more you get) schemes.
Minister Sanan said they expected the government to implement their proposals to help accelerate the economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.
He urged business owners and entrepreneurs to prepare for rising oil prices in the coming years, explaining that it could increase production costs and selling prices for all products.
He also called on the government to find ways to help cushion the predicted oil price increase impacts on public transportation and the overall cost of living.
During the economic Saturday’s forum, Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said authorities were prepared to distribute Covid-19 vaccines across the country and vaccinate 100% of the Thai population this year.
He also stated that the government has procured enough Covid-19 medicines to treat all patients and has taken concrete steps to avoid another hospital bed shortage.
Regarding the economy, Supattanapong said the government had tried to reduce energy costs and non-tariff barriers that can affect Thailand’s competitiveness in the worldwide market. Therefore, entrepreneurs should prepare to experience some changes in the Thai economic structure in 2022, he added.
Supattanapong also told the forum that authorities had approved a project to attract up to a million foreign experts and investors and motivate them to spend more time in the country to boost the local economy.
