Bangkok: The government has issued a warning to those who have received the “Half-Price Plus” subsidy, advising them to utilize all funds by December 31st. Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, disclosed that the first phase of the “Half-Price Plus” project has been well-received by the public and participating shops. The government is reminding over 14 million individuals who have yet to spend their allocated funds to do so by the year-end, as unspent funds will be automatically reclaimed. Citizens are encouraged to seize this opportunity to contribute to the year-end economic boost.

According to Thai News Agency, the project has also focused on entrepreneurship development, with 93,881 merchants participating in upskilling and reskilling programs. The Ministry of Finance has set a deadline of December 19th for merchants to complete their skills development. Merchants meeting the criteria will receive government support amounting to 20% of their sales, specifically from the government’s co-payment portion, up to 2,000 baht per merchant, until December 19, 2025.

Mr. Siripong added that merchants have the option to participate in financial and digital skills development through several channels. These include registering on food delivery platforms like Grab, Lineman, Robinhood, and ShopeeFood, completing online training programs by the Government Savings Bank, or taking courses offered by the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce. Successful merchants will be notified by December 23, 2025, and funds will be transferred by December 25, 2025.

For those seeking more information about the project, inquiries can be directed to the Fiscal Policy Office or relevant departments, with contact details provided for each. Assistance is available through various channels, including direct phone lines for the Fiscal Policy Office, Government Savings Bank, and Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce.