Thailand releases 330 million USD to boost grassroots development

The village fund programme in Thailand has operated for over 20 years, circulating more than 300 billion THB (8.9 billion USD) to date. She credited the initiative to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, which was continued and expanded by former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2012 with additional budget allocations.

Thursday, April 24, 2025 01:24

Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has kicked off a financial support package worth 11 billion THB (nearly 330 million USD) for 79,610 village funds to boost grassroots economic development nationwide.

Addressing the launch ceremony, the Thai PM explained that the funds were allocated based on village size, with each fund receiving either 200,000 THB, 300,000 THB, or 400,000 THB. This structure follows the “SML” (Small, Medium, Large) village fund model.

In her speech, she emphasised that the government aimed to empower local communities to decide how to address their own needs. By allocating the funds directly to revolving village funds, residents could take ownership of their development initiatives.

Paetongtarn noted that the village fund programme has operated for over 20 years, circulating more than 300 billion THB (8.9 billion USD) to date. She credited the initiative to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, which was continued and expanded by former PM Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2012 with additional budget allocations.

The programme currently supports over 13 million members of the nearly 80,000 villages nationwide./.

VNA

#Thailand #Thai Prime Minister #Paetongtarn Shinawatra #grassroots economic development Thailand

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