T HAILAND’S Prime Minister An-
utin Charnvirakul delivered his
government’s policy statement to
parliament on Thursday, prioritizing imme-
diate economic relief from global energy
shocks while laying the groundwork for
long-term structural reforms.
Addressing the National Assembly,
Anutin emphasized that the Bhumjaithai
Party-led government will urgently shield
citizens and businesses from the severe
volatility in global oil and natural gas pric-
es triggered by the ongoing conflict and
maritime disruptions in the Middle East.
He said immediate actions include
providing help to vulnerable groups affect-
ed by rising fuel costs, stabilizing prices for
essential agricultural and industrial sup-
plies, and accelerating the disbursement of
the 2026 fiscal budget to inject liquidity into
the economy. To further boost domestic
consumption, Anutin said the incoming
administration will drive the co-payment
economic stimulus scheme and implement
a comprehensive plan for household debt
restructuring aimed at helping citizens
and small- to medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) re-enter the credit system.
Beyond crisis management, he out-
lined a strategic shift to upgrade Thailand’s
economic engines to escape the middle-in-
come trap with plans to attract foreign
investment in future industries such as
artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and
clean energy. To protect local SMEs, au-
thorities will clamp down on illegal foreign
nominee companies and tighten import
mechanisms to ensure fair competition
for locally manufactured goods, he told
a joint parliamentary session. — Xinhua
