The government is planning to roll out a number of relief measures as “New Year gift”s at the end of the year, which will include taxes reductions, according to Mouthpiece Prime Minister plus Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow yesterday.
More details in the relief packages is going to be announced at a later date, he said.
Mr Supattanapong uncovered the plan after acknowledging that the proposal in order to subsidise low-income households’ electricity bills failed to make its way into yesterday’s cabinet conference.
Soon after, he went on to express that the proposal would be approved by the cabinet in time for it to be implemented next month.
At this point, he or she said, the proposal only covers low-income households.
As for other measures to relieve the influence of the deteriorating geopolitical situation on Asia, he said the particular Ministry of Fund is in talks with banks and other financial institutions, asking them to maintain their interest rates unrevised for as long as possible.
This is designed to help borrowers who are struggling to cope with the particular impact of high inflation and high energy costs, he said.
When mentioned Thai banks’ liquidity situation, he mentioned there was no need just for banks to raise their particular interest rates just yet, because their counterparts in other countries have done.
Although energy prices look like stable at the moment, costs may surge once again as winter within the northern hemisphere strategies, he said.
As such, Mr Supattanapong said he has asked Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to call a gathering of the National Power Policy Committee (NEPC) to discuss measures to encourage the public to save energy and market the use of alternative energy sources at home, such as rooftop solar panels.