Revealing part of the plan to give money to people in Thailand

Reuters quoted Ms. Paetongtarn as saying that part of the Thai government's aid package will be distributed in cash. Details of this policy are still being finalized and will be announced to parliament soon.

Previous commitments regarding the cash handout program included transferring 10,000 baht to approximately 50 million Thai citizens via a smartphone app for local spending over six months.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra

It is unclear what percentage will be distributed in cash. The Thai Ministry of Finance has not yet commented on this information.

The "digital wallet" money distribution program is believed to be a populist policy that the Pheu Thai party in the ruling coalition promised during the election campaign, aimed at reviving an economy that is lagging behind other countries in the region.

Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, recorded 2.3% growth in the second quarter of 2024, but experts believe uncertainty is clouding the outlook. The Bank of Thailand forecasts the country's growth this year at 2.6%, compared to 1.9% last year.

Government officials emphasized that the plan would comply with financial regulations.

In a speech to executives last month, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's father, endorsed the plan to distribute money via digital wallets and added that allocating a portion of the cash would benefit vulnerable groups.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 38, became Prime Minister of Thailand in August, replacing Srettha Thavisin. Her new cabinet list is finalized but not yet announced, and is expected to be formed in mid-September.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/he-lo-mot-phan-ke-hoach-phat-tien-cho-dan-o-thai-lan-185240903174300902.htm