Deputy Prime Minister Anutin is preparing to present at the Cabinet meeting on 5 May a decree authorizing a 400 billion baht loan to handle the Middle East situation. He will also review readiness for a new co-payment scheme called “Thai Help Thai: Reduce Expenses, Increase Purchasing Power,” which will distribute 4,000 baht per person over four months to 13 million people.
On 1 May 2026, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul convened a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anek Niti Pattana-prapas, Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs Pakorn Nilprapunt, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Pradorn Prissanananukul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Lawaron Saengsanit, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office Winij Wisesuwanphum, Director of the Public Debt Management Office Jindarat Wiriyathaveekul, Governor of the Bank of Thailand Vithai Ratanakorn, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council Donucha Pichayanan, Director of the Budget Bureau Anan Kaewkamnerd, and Secretary-General of the Cabinet Natjaree Anantasin at 11:00 a.m. on 30 April 2026 at the Government House.
Before the meeting, Minister Pradorn revealed that the Prime Minister had summoned the economic team to discuss the "Thai Help Thai" program, which the government is preparing to implement and hopes to submit for Cabinet approval soon. Preparation mainly depends on the Ministry of Finance as the policy and guideline issuer, but other ministries will also be involved to determine additional relief measures, such as the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Anek Niti announced that the "Thai Help Thai" or "Co-Payment Plus" program would start on 1 June. This initiative covers several projects with a target group exceeding 30 million people, divided into two groups: first, 13.4 million State Welfare Card holders; second, the general public. Officials are currently finalizing the exact target numbers, but combined beneficiaries will total more than 30 million. Regarding the first meeting of the Economic Policy Committee, Minister Pradorn said today he will seek clarity from the Prime Minister on whether it will be held on Monday, 4 May, which is a public holiday.
At 1:30 p.m., after the Prime Minister’s meeting lasting over three hours, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council Donucha Pichayanan and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Lawaron Saengsanit both declined to comment on the meeting's details. They uniformly directed inquiries to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anek Niti Pattana-prapas.
Additional reports from the Ministry of Finance state that on 5 May, the ministry will submit a draft royal decree authorizing a 400 billion baht loan to the Cabinet. This is to prepare funding sources to mitigate economic impacts arising from the conflict in the Middle East region.
The government determined the 400 billion baht loan amount based on the need for additional budget beyond the approximately 20 billion baht remaining in the central reserve for emergency and urgent expenditures, plus the budget requirements for the Thai Help Thai Plus project. However, the government plans to utilize loan funds prudently according to actual project needs and not necessarily use the entire 400 billion baht.
Reports indicate that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anek Niti Pattana-prapas has convened relevant agencies to discuss the budget for the Thai Help Thai Plus measures, aimed at alleviating citizens’ living costs amid the energy crisis or the original co-payment scheme. The estimated budget is 120 billion baht, expected to benefit around 30 million people. This budget does not include the State Welfare Card project, which Anek Niti previously revealed would grant 1,000 baht per month for four months—totaling 4,000 baht each to about 13 million people, approximately 52 billion baht.
The Bhumjaithai Party’s Facebook page released information on the measure named “Thai Help Thai: Reduce Expenses, Increase Purchasing Power,” providing 4,000 baht per person divided into four monthly payments (June to September 2026) of 1,000 baht each. Beneficiaries receive 4,000 baht in total under the condition that the government covers 60% and citizens pay 40%. For example, when spending 100 baht, the government pays 60 baht and the person pays 40 baht. Registration opens in May 2026, with usage starting in June 2026. The benefits must be spent via the Paotang application at participating stores, cannot be transferred to others, cannot be withdrawn as cash, and must be used within the month granted.