The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance outlined seven measures: increasing the State Welfare Card funds to 400 baht for a pilot period of one month, injecting a 10-billion-baht Soft Loan for SMEs, preparing to reduce excise taxes, promoting B20 fuel use in the fisheries sector, and using the Green Flag project mechanism in agriculture.
26 Mar 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Lawaron Saengsnit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance He announced after a special Cabinet meeting on the energy crisis that the Cabinet approved seven urgent relief measures to reduce living costs and production expenses for the public and businesses as follows.
1 The Cabinet approved sending the matter back to the Ministry of Finance for consideration of excise tax rate reductions. They will decide how much to reduce and for how long, as appropriate. The Ministry of Finance was authorized to reconsider this issue.
2. Support for vulnerable groups will use the State Welfare mechanism, approving an increase from 300 to 400 baht per person per month. This amount is for consumption expenses and will be implemented for one month during the caretaker government period, after which the situation will be reassessed.
3. The groups affected by rising fuel prices include transport, truck operators, and motorcycle taxi drivers, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy tasked to provide explanations. (See above.)
4. Support for the agricultural sector Initially, regarding fertilizers, the Ministry of Commerce has announced the Green Flag project to support fertilizer costs to reduce agricultural expenses, encouraging the use of alternative fertilizers and reducing import dependence.
5. Fisheries sector Relief is provided through the use of B20 fuel, which costs about 5-6 baht less per liter than regular fuel.
6. Government contractors Construction industry operators Operations have been disrupted due to fuel shortages, preventing machinery use and delaying project deliveries. The Ministry of Finance will consider appropriate extensions for work acceptance. Penalties remain but will be adjusted case by case. Compensation for K costs will be handled by the Budget Bureau.
7. SME sector, with the Government Savings Bank preparing a 10-billion-baht Soft Loan to enhance liquidity for entrepreneurs. This includes small businesses and supply chains. Eligibility is open to any group affected by this situation. The Government Savings Bank will provide further details.
At the end, the media inquired about the budget for adding 100 baht to the State Welfare Card and whether the Ministry of Finance has calculated the revenue loss from excise tax reductions. Mr. Lawaron responded, Currently, about 13.3 million people hold State Welfare Cards, costing roughly 1.3 billion baht from the contingency budget. He confirmed the government is ready to do whatever is possible to deliver relief quickly to the people. Regarding the government's revenue loss, that detail will be examined by the Excise Department.