Cabinet takes measures against high living costs and introduces visa exemption for Chinese
(Editorial credit: Chaiwat Subprasom / Shutterstock.com)
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has set up a committee to oversee the implementation of the government's much-discussed 10.000 baht digital wallet initiative. This committee is headed by the Prime Minister himself, who is also Minister of Finance, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat.
According to the policy statement presented to parliament on September 11, the Pheu Thai coalition stated that this digital wallet benefit would not burden the national debt and would comply with strict financial regulations. Its financing will initially take place within the budget framework, but more specific details about the financing and timeline will be announced later.
The Prime Minister will make his first visit to the Finance Ministry on Thursday, where he will oversee the presentation of the policy plan to the heads of various ministries and state-owned enterprises. In addition, the cabinet has decided to pay civil servants biweekly from January 1 to ease their financial pressure and reduce the need for loans, according to Srettha. More details about this initiative will follow.
The government has also taken steps to reduce the cost of living and stimulate economic growth. Measures include lowering the price of diesel to below 30 baht per liter from September 20 and introducing a visa waiver for citizens of China and Kazakhstan, valid from September 25 to February 29 next year.
In addition, Srettha promised debt relief for farmers and small businesses for three years and a reduction in electricity prices from 4,45 baht to 4,10 baht per kilowatt hour, starting from the September billing period.
Source: The Nation
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In concrete terms this means good news for the big shopping malls. Instead of 1 run per month, after pay day (with overcrowded restaurants) there will now be two runs per month.
Who benefits most from these measures?
The old grandmother who uses 100kWh per month with her 15-year-old refrigerator and a fluorescent tube on the ceiling or the one who keeps their entire house cool and festively illuminates the ornamental garden.
Toy and Lek with their oil-leaking 20 year old Daewoo or the
Mercedes and Fortuner drivers.