Supachai revealed that the Ministry of Commerce is accelerating the delivery of survival bags to flood-affected areas and enforcing strict price controls, urging exporters to slow shipments by 30-50% for 2-3 weeks to prevent shortages. The ministry plans to organize the Blue Flag project at 12,000 locations to help reduce citizens' living costs.
At 11:15 a.m. on 4 Oct 2026 GMT+7. Ms. Supachai Suthammanun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce. She gave an interview at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) regarding the Ministry of Commerce's support for flood victims, stating that a Single Command Center was established at the Ministry of Commerce's Permanent Secretary Office on 25 Sept 2026. This center gathers information from commerce offices nationwide about areas needing aid and coordinates multiple departments within the ministry as well as external agencies. For example, in Prachinburi and Sa Kaeo provinces, where water levels are very high and normal vehicles cannot operate, coordination with the Ministry of Defense was made to send vehicles delivering survival bags and essential consumer goods into Kabin Buri district.
Ms. Supachai added, "We focus on monitoring goods, such as perishable items like fresh vegetables and eggs, which may face shortages or price increases in affected areas. We have met with the Egg Producers Association, retail stores, and wholesalers to check inventory and request weekly reports to the Department of Internal Trade. We also ask manufacturers and exporters to slow down or reduce exports by at least 30-50% for 2-3 weeks to ensure sufficient domestic supply."
Regarding businesses that hoard goods or excessively raise prices, the Ministry of Commerce is conducting strict inspections on the ground. The public is encouraged to report any price gouging to the hotline 1569 so ministry officials can take full action.
Meanwhile, in areas where floodwaters have begun to recede, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces, the ministry is rushing to procure cleaning and repair supplies to support big cleaning efforts on site. The Ministry of Commerce has teams ready to assist. In the longer term, the Thai Help Thai Blue Flag project aims to operate at over 12,000 locations nationwide, allowing citizens to access affordable products to ease their burdens.
In closing, Ms. Supachai stated that the Ministry of Commerce acts as a support agency for shortages of consumer goods and post-flood recovery, coordinating with all ministries on necessary actions moving forward.