Dr. Prap No. 6, candidate for Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization president, launched the MATRIX FESTIVAL promoting “Free Selling – Smart Buying – Explore Nonthaburi.” The event highlights the charm of six districts by opening free selling spaces under guidelines without creating new markets to compete with existing ones. Instead, it connects markets, communities, and riverside areas, along with the NONTH DEAL to benefit buyers. The plan includes a 100-day pilot phase across 2–3 areas with an initial budget framework of 15–25 million baht.
Dr. Prap Tham Phatborwon, candidate No. 6 for president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization, unveiled the MATRIX FESTIVAL economic policy under M: Management & Local Economy, part of the MATRIX Nonthaburi framework. It aims to stimulate the local economy by creating trading spaces and encouraging purchasing power and tourism circulation throughout all six districts.
The MATRIX Nonthaburi plan proposes using activities, markets, tourism, and the unique identity of each area as tools to attract purchasing power into the province, based on the concept “Free Selling, Smart Buying, Explore Nonthaburi, Keep Money Circulating in Nonthaburi.” The core principle is opening free selling spaces without charging rent, following guidelines, allowing small entrepreneurs, new career starters, farmers, community enterprises, food vendors, artisans, and local products to participate in rotating events across the six districts: Mueang Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Bang Kruai, Bang Yai, Bang Bua Thong, and Sai Noi. No permanent new markets will be established to compete with existing private or community markets. Instead, existing markets, public spaces, communities, temples, government agencies, and willing private areas will be connected according to authority and legal provisions.
The MATRIX FESTIVAL will develop NONTH SIGNATURE, highlighting each area’s unique strengths by creating distinct activities including food, famous shops, riverside communities, agricultural products, culture, creative works, and family events. The goal is to build an activity calendar that attracts people from inside and outside the province to eat, travel, and shop, thereby spreading spending to shops and communities nearby.
Nonthaburi durian will be among the seasonal NONTH SIGNATURE highlights, not the sole focus of the policy. The durian’s reputation will act as a magnet linking orchards, rivers, food, local specialties, shops, and tourism to distribute income beyond just durian growers.
Another key element is NONTH RIVERSIDE, which leverages the potential of the Chao Phraya River and riverside community lifestyles by connecting dining, music events, shopping, communities, culture, and waterway transport. Initial focus areas include Nonthaburi pier and riverside districts, Pak Kret and riverside communities, plus Khlong Om–Bang Kruai. Bang Yai, Bang Bua Thong, and Sai Noi will utilize existing markets, agricultural areas, local specialties, and accessible activity points as bases.
All these areas are currently for survey and coordination. Rights to use the spaces, traffic, safety, and impacts on existing vendors must be examined before implementation.
Additionally, there is NONTH DEAL, which benefits sellers with space and buyers with enjoyment. Participating shops can offer NONTH DEALs such as special prices, exclusive menus, or product sets for festival visitors. The concept is not for the provincial budget to subsidize discounts but for the government to connect entrepreneurs, activities, and publicity, while shops voluntarily define their promotions.
The first 100 days are framed to produce tangible results: the first 30 days (X-RAY) will survey markets, spaces, vendors, local products, and existing activities across six districts, identifying areas to avoid competing with existing markets and spaces with gaps. The next 60 days (NONTH SIGNATURE MAP) will define each area’s highlights, invite cooperation from markets, communities, temples, agencies, and private sectors, and draft free selling space guidelines and a preliminary activity calendar. The 100-day mark (PILOT FESTIVAL) targets trial events in 2–3 ready areas such as city/old markets, community spaces, and riverside zones, subject to legal and spatial conditions. Following evaluation, expansion across all six districts will proceed. An initial budget of approximately 15–25 million baht is proposed, with the final figure to be set after reviewing the organization’s existing budgets, projects, and assets.
Dr. Prap stated that success will not be measured by the number of events organized but by monitoring the number of vendors, new entrepreneurs, participants, voluntarily reported sales, and effects on surrounding shops and communities. If the festival increases vendor incomes, benefits buyers, improves sales at existing shops, and attracts outsiders to spend money in Nonthaburi, that will constitute a true economic stimulus.