Bangkok: The Comptroller General's Department is expediting the disbursement of government expenditures as part of its ongoing efforts to stimulate the economy.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Patricia Mongkolvanich, Director-General of the Comptroller General's Department, unveiled the results of the budget disbursement for the fiscal year 2023, revealing a total budget allocation of 4,101,298.36 million baht for the first eight months of fiscal year 2026. Out of this, funds amounting to 3,113,135.19 million baht, or 75.91%, have been committed, marking a 5.24% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Disbursements have totaled 2,809,634.62 million baht, equivalent to 68.51%, which is up by 4.13% from the previous year, reflecting an 8.36% increase in disbursement value.
The total expenditure budget for fiscal year 2026 stands at 3,780,600.00 million baht, with 2,821,943.80 million baht already committed, representing 74.64%, which exceeds the target by 1.64%. This is also 5.40% higher than the borrowing rate during the same period last year. Disbursement has reached 2,590,391.31 million baht, or 68.52%, slightly below the target by 0.48% but still 4.58% higher than the disbursement rate during the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Funds reserved for disbursement in the following fiscal year, B.E. 2568 (2025), amount to 320,698.36 million baht. Of this, 291,191.39 million baht, representing 90.80%, is marginally higher than the borrowing rate during the same period last year by 0.58%. Disbursements have totaled 219,243.31 million baht, or 68.36%, which is slightly lower than the disbursement rate of the previous fiscal year by 2.11%.
Ms. Mongkolvanich highlighted that the continuous acceleration of budget disbursement led to an increase in government capital expenditure disbursement by 11,420.08 million baht in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 (January - March 2026). This represents a 6.38% increase compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year and has been a key contributor to the growth in GDP during the first quarter of 2026, supported by strong debt performance.
The Comptroller General's Department foresees that government spending will remain a crucial economic driver for the rest of the fiscal year. It stresses the importance for government agencies to manage contracts efficiently, expedite project acceptance, and complete disbursements on time, especially for funds carried over from the previous fiscal year. With only four months remaining for disbursement, failure to do so will result in budget cancellation, making it impossible to request additional funding for cancelled items in the subsequent year.