Bangkok: The Shadow Cabinet has raised concerns over the "Thai Help Thai Plus" initiative, criticizing its inefficiency in addressing the rising energy costs affecting various sectors. In a recent press conference at the Parliament building, the People's Party, led by Deputy Leader Mr. Veerayuth Kanchuchat, articulated their stance on the government's economic policies and proposed measures to sustain Thailand's automotive supply chain.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Veerayuth emphasized that the "Thai Help Thai Plus" initiative falls short of aiding those most impacted by increasing energy costs, such as farmers, fishermen, and the transportation sector. He highlighted that since July, retail fuel prices have surged, with diesel reaching 40 baht per liter, questioning why the government has not utilized the 400 billion baht borrowed to mitigate these costs.
Farmers have been particularly burdened as they face rising expenses for fuel, equipment, and fertilizers. Mr. Veerayuth criticized the allocation of nearly 200 billion baht from the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program, suggesting it was more politically motivated than a solution to the energy crisis. He also pointed out the lack of clarity in the government's energy transition funding plans.
Furthermore, Mr. Veerayuth criticized the government's recent focus on adjusting taxes for electric vehicles (EVs) as a measure to support the automotive industry. He argued that merely increasing excise taxes on imported EVs is insufficient for maintaining local industry content.
To address these issues, Mr. Veerayuth proposed four direct measures:
1. Enforcing stricter criteria for local content in subsidized EV manufacturing.
2. Promoting investment in research and development for future automotive technologies.
3. Allocating resources for workforce skill development, enabling transitions to hybrid and EV sectors.
4. Supporting SMEs in the automotive parts industry to meet environmental standards in export markets.
These proposals aim to ensure a more sustainable approach to maintaining Thailand's automotive supply chain and addressing the broader economic challenges.