Bangkok: A warning has been issued against fraudulent shops involved in the "Thai Help Thai 60:40" initiative. Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, has urged customers to refrain from purchasing from these establishments and has instructed the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) to investigate the matter.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Supamas addressed concerns regarding shops in the Huai Khwang area accepting Chinese yuan payments via scanning. She noted that although there have been media reports, she has not received any formal complaints and requested time for a thorough investigation. She also mentioned that the Huai Khwang area is known as a Chinese business district and has instructed the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to conduct a site inspection.
Ms. Supamas further discussed concerns related to the "Thai Help Thai Plus" project, where there were worries about shops raising prices. She stated that, except for one reported case, there have been minimal incidents of exploitation. The CPB recently visited a street vendor involved in a reported incident but found the shop closed. She emphasized the importance of displaying prices clearly as mandated by the Ministry of Commerce's regulations and urged customers to verify prices before making payments, whether through scanning or credit cards.
She encouraged the public to report any issues to the Ministry of Commerce, assuring that over 99% of vendors are compliant, based on field inspections. Highlighting the positive impact of the initiative, Ms. Supamas mentioned that during visits by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Ms. Supajee Suthamphan, along with Members of Parliament, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The initiative has reportedly boosted the economy, increased sales, and doubled the goods received by buyers, with no formal complaints filed thus far.