Bangkok: The government has issued an urgent reminder to over 14 million beneficiaries of the "Half-Price Plus" scheme to utilize their subsidies by December 31st.
According to Thai News Agency, the prompt targets both the public and merchants involved in the initiative, emphasizing the automatic reclamation of unspent funds once the project concludes. The government encourages beneficiaries to make wise spending decisions, contributing to the economic stimulus as the year draws to a close.
Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, highlighted the positive reception of Phase 1 of the "Half-Price Plus" project from both the public and participating shops. He reiterated the importance of spending the allocated funds by the deadline. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance expects participating merchants to complete their skills development by December 19th. This initiative aims to empower merchants by enhancing their business capabilities. The first 400,000 merchants meeting the development criteria will receive government support equating to 20% of their sales from the Half-Price Plus project, capped at 2,000 baht per merchant, until December 19, 2025.
Merchants participating in the scheme have the opportunity to advance their skills via three distinct channels. They can register as a merchant on major food delivery platforms, including Grab, Lineman, Robinhood, and ShopeeFood, provided they have not previously done so. Additionally, merchants can opt for online training programs offered by the Government Savings Bank or the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce. Successful completion of these programs will be announced on December 23, 2025, with subsequent notifications and fund transfers following shortly after.
The government's call to action and the structured development programs reflect a concerted effort to bolster economic activity and merchant capability as the year comes to a close.