Suphajee says Thailand Help Thai Plus extension of 2 months to be discussed, in response to war and rising oil prices
MacroGeopoliticsCommodity
Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, disclosed that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas to consider the possibility of extending the Thailand Help Thai Plus programme for a further period, with a preliminary framework of about 2 months, and to have the Ministry of Finance consider the details, the form of the measures, and the funding sources to support them. The Prime Minister sees that the Thai economy still faces rising risks from geopolitical situations, especially the case of increasing strait closures, while oil prices have begun to gradually rise, which could affect the economic sector and the public. On trade negotiations with the United States, the Ministry of Commerce is preparing information and agreement documents, with a plan to propose that the leaders of the two countries hold high-level discussions around 17 or 18 September, and confirmed that Thailand has submitted information clarifying the Transshipment goods issue, particularly in the 3 industrial groups under investigation, showing that Thai operators have real production capacity at the level of 75-90%. At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce is preparing to attend the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting in the Philippines and the 10th round of Thailand-European Union FTA negotiations, scheduled to be held in Phuket province between 28 September and 3 October this year, with the goal of concluding key principles and announcing success, as well as moving forward toward signing within this year. As for the appointment of 4 Commerce Ministry inspectors-general, Suphajee confirmed that it was a joint discussion between the Minister of Commerce, the current permanent secretary, and the incoming permanent secretary, based on the current situation and future work direction, and confirmed that no more importance was given to male executives than to female executives.
