BANGKOK, Thailand – The government is accelerating efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a target of increasing their contribution to the country’s gross domestic product to 40%. Kobsak Pootrakool, adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, chaired the first meeting of the newly expanded Working Group on Community Economy and SMEs at Government House on November 9, attended by 49 representatives from the public and private sectors.
The working group detailed plans to improve coordination among government agencies, reduce overlapping support programs, and make public spending more efficient. Key proposals include introducing a common identification system for SME-related projects and upgrading SME ONE ID to simplify registration, connect business information across agencies, and make government assistance more accessible to entrepreneurs.
The meeting also addressed unfair competition and rising costs for businesses operating on major e-commerce platforms. Participants acknowledged a six-month postponement of fee increases by Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok, offering temporary relief to smaller online sellers. The working group will also examine longer-term measures to protect entrepreneurs once the postponement ends.
Beyond these priorities, the group proposed increasing the value of community products through improved product development, local cultural identity, and wider access to tourism-related sales channels and community markets. Further discussions with the Community Development Department and other agencies will help shape recommendations for government consideration, with the goal of expanding business opportunities and supporting sustainable economic growth in local communities. (NNT)
