Thailand Program May Extend Two More Months
Thailand's Finance Ministry is considering extending the Thai Help Thai Plus subsidy program by one to two months following requests from small businesses concerned about declining purchasing power. A decision is expected within two to thre
On September 10, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekkanit Nitithanprapas announced that the Finance Ministry is ready to consider extending the Thai Help Thai Plus program. Following consultations with small traders and business owners who requested a one to two-month extension to sustain purchasing power, Ekkanit said a clear decision should emerge within two to three weeks. "The overwhelming feedback from merchants calls for a one to two-month extension," he said. "We will prioritize this and examine remaining budget allocations for an extension."
Ekkanit cited ongoing global energy price volatility and its impact on domestic living costs as a key reason for considering the extension. If approved, the program may be adjusted in terms of participant eligibility and cost-sharing ratios between government and consumers. To date, over 26 million people have used the program, and combined with 13 million state welfare cardholders, roughly 40 million people benefit from the cost-of-living support.
Concerns about purchasing power slumping after the program ends have been addressed by lessons from the previous Thai Rao Krathai Plus initiative, which showed retail sales jumped 500-600% during rollout and remained up 200% after completion among merchants who received training in online sales and digital skills. The Finance Ministry introduced AI Whisper Bird, an artificial intelligence assistant on the Thai Rao Krathai mobile app that provides free sales analytics and cost management tools to help small traders build sustainable income even after subsidy measures end.
Moreover, over 1.2 million small businesses nationwide have joined the program, circulating more than 150 billion baht through the economy. Of this, 83-84% has been distributed to provinces outside Bangkok, with only 16-17% staying in the capital. The AI Whisper Bird tool analyzes optimal sales timing and compares raw material costs—pork, mushrooms, duck, chicken, eggs—against market prices, enabling traders to procure inventory at lower cost and boost long-term profitability.
