Politician Plans to Boost Community Enterprises With Parliament Support
A deputy parliament member from Surat Thani pledges to help local community enterprises scale up by securing parliament space for product showcases and developing policies for financing, packaging, and market access.
On August 14, Bunruai Yamchinda, a list MP and United Thai People Party leader serving as deputy chair of the consumer protection committee, along with Prakanchan Cheepphittaya, the party's southern region strategy director, led a team on a fact-finding visit to community enterprises in Surat Thani. They toured Uncle Song's Garden in Muang district, which produces cold-pressed coconut oil and value-added products including coconut wine, serum, and soap, as well as other local enterprises like a weaving group producing natural indigo-dyed fabric.
Bunruai noted that while the region has abundant natural resources and local wisdom, enterprises struggle to scale up due to limited access to packaging development, branding, marketing channels, and affordable credit. He pledged to request parliament provide space to showcase and sell community products during legislative sessions to expand markets and create sustainable livelihoods.
Prakanchan added that the south is rich with potential but lacks opportunities to develop and scale. He committed to compiling community proposals into policy recommendations covering low-interest financing, product standards, packaging, and connections between community products and tourism and larger markets to strengthen the grassroots economy in the region.
