BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday ( Sep 12 ) outlined her government’s policy agenda to parliament, headlined by plans to give away 450 billion baht ( US$ 13.4 billion ) in handouts to jumpstart Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
Political , stranger Paetongtarn’s case was sworn in this quarter after legislature elected her , Thailand’s youngest leading following the shock treatment of forerunner Srettha Thavisin by a court decision.
The nationalist Pheu Thai party’s and Srettha’s policies, including those promoting gambling and legalizing games, are still largely in line with their plans.
Paetongtarn stated in a statement to the legislature that the government was facing difficulties, including architectural economical issues, and that it would immediately intervene to stimulate growth.
It is anticipated that the country’s economic growth rate does not reach 3 per share annually if there are no fiscal and monetary measures in place to help it, she said.
In 2027, she said, the public debt level would be close to the maximum of 70 % to the gross domestic product ( GDP ). At the end of July, public debt amounted to 63.74 % of GDP.
” So, it is a great challenge that the government had immediately restore the country’s economy to rapidly increase highly again”, Paetongtarn said.
There were no details about how or when it would be implemented, despite the fact that she highlighted the signature plan for a “digital wallet” handout of 10,000 baht ( US$ 300 ) to 50 million people. Paetongtarn has previously stated that some of the recipients would receive the gift in cash.