The number of SME owners interested in registering their businesses for the formal SMEs system has increased through aid and benefits from the government sector, says the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister on Economy Pridiyathorn Devakula has revealed after holding discussion sessions with the private sector at the government house, that the discussion covers many aspects such as the aid measures from the government sector to SME owners and agricultural zoning.
During this dialog, the DPM has said that the private sector has requested the government grant amnesty to informal SME owners, exempting them from unpaid taxes, in order to attract them to register under the formal SMEs system.
On this issue, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce have been appointed to set up a team to design measures to attract SME owners to register. The Ministry of Finance will be designing aid measures on taxation and funding for SME businesses with the initial plan to assign the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation to help assist in guarantees to help boost and upgrade SME businesses.
There are currently about 700,000 SME owners in the commercial sector, 461,000 of which are indebted with loans from commercial banks.
The DPM has revealed the outcome of discussions on agricultural land zoning to promote the cultivation of tapioca instead of rice, that 1 million rai of land is suitable for the transformation from the initially surveyed 700,000 rai. The Ministry of Agricultural and Cooperatives will further check the area for any overlapping land, and will establish a direct selling contract with sugar factory operators.
From this discussion, the Ministry of Industry has been appointed to study the guidelines of the Product of Thailand quality certification that is expected to upgrade the positioning of Thai products to the premium markets and could increase sales in neighboring countries. The Board of Investment (BOI) will study and establish the form of benefits, which will then be granted to Thai manufacturers while additional discussions will continue in the future.
