Bangkok: Unveiling a plan for 2027, the plan aims to channel 3.4 billion baht of unspent funds into village funds to create jobs and livelihoods.
According to Thai News Agency, 'Suksomruay' continues its aggressive approach, unveiling its plan for 2027 to channel 3.4 billion baht from unspent funds into village funds, creating jobs and livelihoods for village fund members and urban communities, thereby elevating the grassroots economy.
Ms. Sukhsomruay Wantaniyakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and Chairperson of the National Village and Urban Community Fund, revealed the direction for driving and upgrading the Village and Urban Community Fund. She stated that in fiscal year 2027, the National Village and Urban Community Fund will proceed with the government's policy aimed at creating jobs and livelihoods for the people. This will be achieved by developing essential vocational skills for members of Village and Urban Community Funds nationwide and injecting funds to provide low-interest loans as capital for starting businesses. This will initially be piloted with strong and high-potential Village Funds (Dark Green Funds) to empower them as key drivers of community economic development.
The fund plans to allocate 3.4 billion baht, accumulated from 2012, to village funds that are ready but have not yet received additional capital, providing 1 million baht to each fund. If this allocation is fully completed, it will help to distribute funds into the village-level economy in a tangible way as quickly as possible.
Ms. Suksomruay further stated that in the past, during the 2026 fiscal year, the National Village and Urban Community Fund implemented the "Thai Helps Thai: Capital Increase, Half Interest" project with a budget of 4,452 million baht. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the opening ceremony on August 10th at Government House. This project aimed to assist over 12 million members of the Village Fund in 79,610 funds nationwide, with the government bearing 50% of the interest payments required by the members. This project reflects the crucial role of the Village Fund as a key mechanism in helping grassroots communities resolve their debt problems.
This operational plan of the National Village and Urban Community Fund is in line with the government's intention to provide full budgetary support, with the ultimate goal of helping people escape the cycle of informal debt and having working capital for sustainable career development.
"We want to transform village funds into a vital engine supporting the country's economy. If members are disciplined and can leverage the capital to develop income-generating businesses, the government is ready to inject full support to improve the quality of life for grassroots people across the country."