First steps to support: 120,000 stores at Khon La Khrueng Plus!

First steps to support: 120,000 stores at Khon La Khrueng Plus!

The starting signal for the new “Khon La Khrueng Plus” program has been given! On October 7, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced this promising venture, which comes with a healthy budget of 44 billion baht. Over 120,000 shops in Thailand have already registered for the program, so that local sales can also be strengthened. A whopping 123,960 retailers took part between October 15th and 17th alone, including 72,000 already registered stores and 51,000 new participants. Anyone who thinks this is the end of the road is wrong: another 98,000 stores are currently in the registration process.

The program allows small businesses to share their payment costs with the government, which is intended to benefit domestic consumption. “It is time for us to do our part to support the Thai economy,” said Nitithanprapas proudly. Consumer registration will take place between October 20th and 26th via the Pao Tang app, while purchasing activities can take place at a leisurely pace from October 29th to December 31st.

Scam warnings

With every new program often comes worrying news. Deputy government spokeswoman Airin Phanrit has warned against fake registration links and scam messages. “Citizens should definitely access official applications such as the Paotang app for consumers and the Thung Ngern app for merchants,” she strongly advised. The cyber police have also issued a warning: “Do not share sensitive information such as ID numbers or bank details!” Safety is the be-all and end-all here.

The readiness of participating stores will be checked by the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), which will carry out the relevant inspections next week. Director General Wittayakorn Maneenet reported that over 80,000 Blue Flag stores – impressively around 60% of the network – are already participating in the program. Before the project begins, the total number of participants is expected to exceed 100,000.

The big picture

But what is actually behind this generous program? The Cabinet approved the “Khon La Khrueng” (half-half plus cost sharing) with the clear aim of boosting domestic consumption and stimulating the Thai economy. This is part of the policy line of the government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, which was already introduced in a first phase as part of the COVID-19 relief measures under the previous government of Prayut Chan-o-cha.

What may be of interest to many citizens is that registered participants only have to pay half the price of their purchases in local stores, while the other half is subsidized by the government. However, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and lottery tickets are excluded from funding. The target group includes 20 million participants, i.e. almost every second person in Thailand who is 16 years old or older and is not a social welfare card holder. Taxpayers can enjoy 2,400 baht, while non-taxpayers can get 2,000 baht, with a handy daily spending limit of 200 baht.

At the same time, another stimulus program is underway in Thailand, where citizens can receive money of 10,000 baht (approx. 280 USD) to support the local economy. Despite initial difficulties, millions have already registered, and the effectiveness of these programs is being hotly debated by economists. The Thai economy is still struggling to reach its potential, with a projected GDP growth rate of just 2.4% for 2024.

If you don't allow yourself to be moved, it's difficult to make progress. But the new “Khon La Khrueng Plus” program seems to be a step in the right direction. There's a lot of excitement on the streets of Bangkok - who wouldn't want to get a good deal? In order to always stay up to date, you should follow developments closely.

It remains exciting to see how the situation surrounding the programs will provide effective impetus. Stay tuned!