Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said today that the disbursement of the first tranche of 145 billion baht, under the “digital wallet” scheme, to 2.1 million people and 12.4 million state welfare card holders will create the first “major economic whirlwind” which will lead to opportunities, enhance businesses and improve the livelihoods of low income-earners.
She reconfirmed the government’s determination to proceed with the second phase of the scheme to further stimulate the sluggish economy and to set the foundation for a digital economy, so Thai people will have “digital IDs” for convenient and transparent interaction with the government.
The prime minister and her cabinet presided over a ceremony at the Government House today, to trigger the long-awaited first payments of the 10,000 baht cash benefit under the scheme. The first group of 14.5 million disabled people and state welfare card holders will receive the money via transfer to their bank accounts from today until the end of this month.
She referred to various challenges, ranging from the global economic slowdown and geopolitical conflicts to natural disasters which, she said, have seriously impacted the Thai economy, resulting in a lack of liquidity in the economy and delays to new investments, among others.
Emphasising the government’s work on economic development and improvement of the people’s livelihoods, she accepted that some policies will be realised in months or even years from now, such as debt moratoria for farmers.
The prime minister said that, even though the tourism sector has grown substantially in the past few years, that is not enough to stimulate the macro economy, hence, the launch of the digital wallet scheme.
She expressed hope that disabled people and state welfare card holders will spend their 10,000 baht wisely.
After presiding over the ceremony today, the prime minister spoke with some of the cash recipients via video call. She asked them whether or when they had received the money.
One of them reportedly said he received the money after midnight last night and thanked the government for the support.
