Bangkok: The Department of Business Development is calling on merchants participating in the 'Half-Price Plus' project to enhance their skills, with only four days remaining to qualify for a bonus of up to 2,000 baht. Over 90,000 merchants are yet to complete the necessary courses offered through the DBD Academy. Merchants must finish the training by December 19th to be eligible for a New Year's payment.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce, emphasized the urgency for merchants involved in the Co-Pay Plus project to participate in the final phase of the Upskill and Reskill program. The deadline for completing the online courses is December 19, 2025. Merchants who successfully complete the program will receive a government subsidy of up to 20% of their sales, with a maximum bonus of 2,000 baht.
The DBD Academy platform provides merchants with free access to modern business skills training, aiming to upskill entrepreneurs. The program has seen positive engagement, with 93,881 entrepreneurs registered out of 400,000 available slots. The Department encourages remaining merchants to take advantage of this opportunity to receive the government subsidy.
On the DBD Academy platform, 31,969 businesses have registered for training, and 19,465 have completed their courses. Feedback from participants has been positive, with many praising the courses for their practical application to business management. Some merchants have even taken additional courses beyond the minimum requirement.
The Department has curated five key courses that are designed to be easy to learn and applicable to modern business needs. These include courses on starting a business for new SMEs, AI strategies, restaurant business success, e-commerce marketing, and digital marketing. These courses help merchants improve revenue, reduce expenses, and enhance technological skills.
Merchants must be registered on the 'Tung Ngern' app within the 'Kon La Khrueng Plus' project to qualify. They need to select and complete at least one course on the DBD Academy website by December 19, 2025. The Ministry of Finance will announce the subsidy recipients on December 23, 2025, with funds transferred on December 25, 2025, just in time for New Year's activities.
Director-General Poonpong urged merchants not to miss this last opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and transform their businesses, while also receiving financial support.