Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday approved support measures worth 27.43 billion baht (about 746 million U.S. dollars) to ease people’s pressure from surging living costs and boost consumption amid rising inflation.
The measures, running between September and October, include the extension of an existing co-payment scheme totaling 21.2 billion baht, which will benefit up to 26.5 million people, or up to 800 baht each, government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.
The government also approved a program worth 5.34 billion baht to enhance the purchasing power of low-income groups with state welfare cards, and a scheme totaling 890 million baht to help people with special needs maintain their purchasing power, Thanakorn said, adding that these two programs are expected to benefit 15 million people.
These measures came after surging energy and raw food prices pushed Thailand’s consumer inflation up to a 14-year-high of 7.66 percent in June, adding pressure to the central bank to raise the key policy rates to contain consumer price rises.
On Tuesday, the cabinet also approved favorable tax measures to encourage the use and production of electric vehicles in Thailand, according to Thanakorn
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