Extra Bt43.5bn approved for shopping subsidies
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) has approved a budget of Bt43.5 billion for two economic stimulus schemes to boost consumers' purchasing power and domestic consumption.
The budget will come from the country's existing Bt1 trillion of funds borrowed to revive the economy after Covid-19.
Of the total, Bt22.5 billion will be spent on phase 2 of the “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) subsidised shopping scheme.
Phase 1 of the scheme, from October 23 to December 31, offers about 10 million citizens discounts of up to Bt150 per day on purchases at participating stores, capped at Bt3,000 throughout the period.
The remaining Bt21 billion will be spent to increase the subsidy state welfare card holders receive on purchases of consumer goods by an additional Bt500 per person per month for three months. This will be effective from January-March next year.
