Digital wallet scheme ‘coming in May’

Digital wallet scheme 'coming in May'
Prommin: Coverage as a component of the overall picture

The authorities insisted on Wednesday that its pledged digital wallet scheme would be implemented in May and added that it would use input from the Council of State regarding its plan to use 500 billion baht to financing the scheme to make sure it was implemented perfectly.

The product costs and the lineup coverage of the ruling Pheu Thai Party were genuine, according to Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister, and their input had only aid in the scheme’s implementation.

The state asked the council’s opinion last month about whether the loan costs may be passed to fund the program, which aims to distribute 10,000 baht to every Thai person 16 years of age and older through a modern finances in an effort to boost the economy.

When asked if this plan and the monthly spending plan may increase the nation’s GDP this year, Dr. Prommin responded that they were only a small part of the overall picture and that the government intended to implement dozens of policies simultaneously to give the economy re-energized.

He claimed that the effects of the digital wallet plan was not taken into account when the Budget Bureau predicted a growth rate of 2.3 % to 3.7 % from the 2024 monthly spending plan. Additionally, he stated that over the course of the following four years, the government would see to it that the business was slowly strengthened.

On Wednesday and Monday, Democratic Record MP Jurin Laksanawisit cautioned the government not to hold the Council of State accountable if it did not rule in the country’s favor. During the House discussion on the budget bill, he criticized the modern bag system.

Mr. Jurin advised the government to create a backup plan in case the loan costs is unable to move forward.

What happens if the state is unable to borrow this amount? As long as the plan has not been put into action, I will continue to inquire about it on behalf of the general public, he said.

In addition, he expressed doubt as to whether the state had the capacity to do so and questioned how it intended to raise the funds to repay the loan in the event that the modern pocket program was implemented.

The previous Democrat leader even criticized the Pheu Thai-led state for requesting an extra loan of 100 billion baht, pointing out that the previous administration’s borrowing policies had received repeated criticism. For the 2024 fiscal year, he stated, the state may apply for a product price 693 billion baht, but this would not be enough to pay for the digital budget program. The state would have less money for purchases and development if it had debt payment obligations, he continued.