Thailand considers new relief packages amid third COVID-19 wave
Thailand’s government is considering new relief packages for both individuals and businesses as a part of a new economic stimulus package, against the backdrop of local third wave of COVID-19 outbreak.
A deserted lounge at the Suvarnabhumi airport in Thailand's Bangkok amid COVID-19. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s government isconsidering new relief packages for both individuals and businesses as a partof a new economic stimulus package, against the backdrop of local third wave ofCOVID-19 outbreak.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed alleconomic agencies concerned, including the Finance Ministry and the NationalEconomic and Social Development Council (NESDC), to speed up assessing theimpact of the COVID-19 restrictions on all sectors, which is required beforedetails of these relief packages can be mapped out, said TraisureeTaisaranakul, deputy government spokeswoman, on May 3.
The details of the COVID-19 relief packages will besubmitted to the Centre for Economic Situation Administration forconsideration, she said.
Pubs, bars and other types of night entertainment venuesacross the country were among the first group of businesses to be impacted bythe government's COVID-19 restrictions, put in place to deal with the latestwave of COVID-19 infections, she said.
The six provinces now considered COVID-19 red zones,including Bangkok, in particular have been heavily affected as the Thaigovernment had to tighten COVID-19 control measures.
A fresh assessment of the economic impact of theseprovinces is now required because the previous assessment was conducted beforestricter COVID-19 control measures were imposed, she said.
Past relief packages aimed at shouldering living costs,such as discounts on electricity, water and cooking gas bills for instance,proved effective in helping ease the economic impact of the outbreak onconsumers, she said.
Thailand’s Finance Ministry has reduced its 2021 economicgrowth forecast for a second time this year to 2.3 percent from 2.8 percentgrowth, after a third wave of coronavirus infections struck the tourism-reliantnation last month./.
Thailand’s GDP growth may dive to 1.6 percent if the government fails to stimulate its economy reeling from the third wave of COVID-19 infections, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
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The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
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A deserted lounge at the Suvarnabhumi airport in Thailand's Bangkok amid COVID-19. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
