Hat yai: Thanakorn Wangboonkhongchana, Minister of Industry, spearheaded a visit to Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, with Ministry of Industry executives to unveil a comprehensive package aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals affected by recent floods. The initiative includes debt relief measures and capital injections to bolster business recovery.
According to Thai News Agency, Thanakorn, accompanied by Mr. Nattapol Rangsitpol, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and other executives, distributed 1,000 relief packages containing essential supplies such as food and drinking water. The Ministry also established a temporary shelter at the Industrial Promotion Center, Region 10, to house 100 disaster victims. Collaborating with TISI, Songkhla Provincial Industrial Office, the Automotive Institute, and Hat Yai Technical College, the center provides free car repairs, oil changes, and electrical appliance repairs.
Additionally, private sector donations of tools and equipment, including high-pressure water sprayers and cordless drills, were made to Hat Yai Technical College to support disaster relief efforts. Mr. Thanakorn’s visit also included an assessment of Songkhla Marine Products Company to expedite a recovery plan for its production and workforce.
The Ministry’s assistance measures, under the “Debt Suspension – Liquidity Enhancement” package by the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIPROM), include suspending principal and interest payments for up to four months, reducing installments, extending repayment periods up to two years, and offering a “Easy Money, Recovery, Disaster Relief” loan of 500,000 baht with 0% interest for six months. This initiative aims to facilitate swift business recovery and minimize economic impact.
Furthermore, Thanakorn’s visit to the SME D Bank Lopburi Ramesuan branch emphasized the need to boost liquidity for local entrepreneurs. The Ministry has tasked SME D Bank with implementing emergency measures, including suspending principal and interest payments for up to 12 months and providing an emergency fund of 200,000 baht for repairs. A business recovery loan, with a fixed 3% interest rate for the first three years and a 12-month principal-free period, is also available with a maximum credit limit of 15 million baht.
Mr. Thanakorn reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to supporting both the public and businesses in overcoming the challenges posed by the floods, aiming for a swift recovery of the local economy.