Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul today became the temporary driver of a ‘Pum-Puang’ truck (a vehicle adapted to sell food and/or groceries), with Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun as a passenger.
They were launching the Thai Helps Thai (Thai Chuay Thai) campaign, aimed at easing people’s cost of living, with local reporters running after them.
In a lively and friendly atmosphere, Anutin donned a project vest and drove a three-wheeler mobile grocery van from the Santi Maitree Building to the Thai Khu Fah Building in Bangkok to officially launch the campaign.
Parking the vehicle, Anutin playfully recited the lyrics of the traditional Thai rhyme "Jum-Jee," listing various fruits and vegetables, Thai melons, cucumbers, jackfruit, custard apples and more, to illustrate the variety of goods available.
He also showcased sample products to promote the project, including Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), oyster sauce, kale, Choy Sum, sugar, instant noodles, limes and fish sauce.
“Pum-puang trucks are part of Ministry of Commerce’s Thai Chuay Thai campaign, which has the goal of bringing essential goods to the public at prices lower than in general markets and supermarkets, working with participating entrepreneurs,” said Anutin.
He added that, through cooperation with various businesses, the government has secured bulk pricing to ensure that, while costs are lower, the quality, standards and ingredients remain unchanged.
Suphajee added that this initiative expands on the work done by the Department of Provincial Administration (Ministry of Interior), the Ministry of Commerce, the private sector and modern trade retailers.
“Together, they have brought over 3,000 essential items for sale at discounted rates, up to 58% off, at district offices nationwide every Friday throughout May 2026,” she said.
The mobile grocery vans will ensure that citizens in remote sub-districts and villages have access to affordable, high-quality goods. The fleet is consists of motorcycles, three-wheelers pickup trucks.
Participants in the project receive two main benefits. First, fuel subsidies based on vehicle type (3,000 baht/month for trucks, 1,500 baht/month for sidecars and 1,000 baht/month for motorcycles). Second, they receive starter product kits for market testing.
The project is expected to reduce the public's cost of living by at least 280 million baht, targeting 4 million households.
Registration for operators between May 1 and 7 saw a total of 10,397 registrants, consisting of 3,539 trucks, 4,535 three wheelers and 2,323 motorcycles.
The mobile grocery project is planned to run for three months and align with other government economic stimulus measures, such as the ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ (Half-and-Half Plus) scheme.
The first phase will run from May 15 to June 14, 2026. During these 30 days, 14 essential consumer items from 12 major manufacturers will be sold at special prices through community-accessible channels, including 3,800 mobile groceries, 946 Thailand Post service points and 129 community stores.
