Thailand to Extend Consumer Subsidy Using 40 Billion Baht in Leftover Funds
PM Anutin Charnvirakul says the two-month extension, pending cabinet approval, will use 40 billion baht remaining from a first phase that reached about 43 million people.
BANGKOK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Thailand will extend its consumer subsidy programme using 40 billion baht ($1.20 billion) remaining from the first phase, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Friday.
• The first phase covered about 43 million people and ran from June to September.
• Participants received 1,000 baht ($30.04) per month.
• The government subsidised 60% of eligible purchases, capped at 200 baht per person per day.
• The extension, subject to cabinet approval, is aimed at helping ease living costs.
• "This is not a populist policy. It is both an economic stimulus policy and a measure to ease people's expenses across the country at a time of high living costs," Anutin said.
• The extension will last two months, a government spokesperson said.
($1 = 33.2900 baht)
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by David Stanway)
