Thailand to begin distribution of handout scheme this month

First 145 billion baht of the “digital bag” initiative targeted at vulnerable parties

A deputy finance minister on Monday emphasized the need for short-term economic stimulus and said that Thailand will deliver 145 billion ringgit of its “digital bag” handout program earlier than scheduled to aid vulnerable groups.

Julapun Amornvivat claimed that the government had prepared 450 billion ringgit in full for its signature handout program, which aims to encourage economic growth by transferring 10,000 baht to 50 million Thais to invest in their localities during a finances debate in the senate.

The measure, which was scheduled for deployment in the last quarter of this year, is the core of&nbsp, Thailand’s plans to start Southeast Asia’s second-largest sector, which grew 2.3 % in the second quarter.

A court’s sudden removal of Srettha Thavisin as prime minister last month, which led to a change in government, has skepticism about when the guaranteed signal methods will start to take effect.

Part of the flyer will now be in funds, Mr Srettha’s supporter and son, Paetongtarn Shinawatra said last year.

Officials in charge of finance, Julapun, reported that 32 million people had already enrolled in the program, including those who were resilient, but not those who had no smartphones, for which funds were to be received via an application.

The first round of obligations, which Mr. Julapun claimed may be made later in September and would be made from the 2024 finances and other sources, was not immediately obvious. It would be in cash.

His remarks come after Ms. Paetongtarn, the daughter of socially renowned businessman Thaksin Shinawatra, promised to spur the business right away and implement Mr. Srettha’s policy goals at the weekends.

Her fresh government released a policy statement on Sunday that Ms. Paetongtarn will offer to parliament after this week.

The handbook program has received criticism from economists, including two former central bank governors, for being financially irresponsible. The state disagrees, but it has had to look for sources of funding.

It insists the plan is needed to reinvigorate the economy, which the central bank expects to expand only 2.6 % this year, up from 1.9 % in 2023 and much barren of most regional classmates.