Thailand revives co-payment scheme to spur consumer spending
Funding will come from the 25-billion-THB central stimulus fund for 2026, with flexibility to reallocate resources if needed, according to the Thai Ministry of Finance.
Bangkok (VNA) ꦑ– Thailand’s new government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has unveiled urgent economic measures aimed at stimulating consumer spending, boosting local incomes and easing farmers’ debts, with the revival of the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) co-payment scheme at the centre of the plan.
The scheme, which ran in five phases from 2020 to 2022 with a budget of 234.5 billion THB (7.4 billion USD), helped reduce living costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lavaron Sangsnit, Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Finance, said the ministry is technically ready to relaunch the programme through the “Pao Tang” application once the Bhumjaithai-led government formally adopts the policy.
Funding will come from the 25-billion-THB central stimulus fund for 2026, with flexibility to reallocate resources if needed. He noted that vendors registered under the earlier scheme could resume participation quickly.
Economists said while the exact impact is difficult to predict, both financial and technical infrastructures are in place to support the rollout./.
Comparing the proposed co-payment revival with the digital wallet promoted by the outgoing Pheu Thai government, a leader of the Bhumjaithai Party said that Khon La Khrueng is more likely to deliver tangible results.
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