Bangkok: The government is allocating 4.4 billion baht to the "Half-Interest Loan" project to help members of the Village Fund. The government is moving forward with efforts to help people overcome the economic crisis, allocating over 4.4 billion baht to support the "Thai Helps Thai: Capital Increase and Half-Interest Loan" program, reducing the debt burden of over 8 million members of village funds nationwide.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, prioritizes alleviating the burden of living costs and resolving the debt problems of the people. This includes, in particular, supporting the grassroots economy and increasing liquidity for households nationwide, so that people can maintain their livelihoods and occupations amidst the volatility of the global economy. The Deputy Spokesperson added that Ms. Suksomruay Wantaniyakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and Chair of the National Village and Urban Community Fund Committee, disclosed that the government has launched the "Thai Helps Thai Project: Capital Increase, Half-Interest Rate Sharing" to assist members of village and urban community funds nationwide. The government has allocated over 4,452 million baht to increase capital for village funds and support the fu nds in reducing interest rates on loans for members by at least half. This means the government will share the interest burden with the people, directly reducing expenses and increasing financial liquidity for households.
Ms. Lalida stated that the project is one of the government's key measures to support people affected by the economic downturn and rising cost of living, particularly those at the community and rural levels, who form the foundation of the Thai economy. It also aligns with the government's policy of stimulating the economy through community mechanisms, coupled with strengthening village funds as community financial institutions for the people. The National Village and Urban Community Fund Office (NVUCO) will open applications for village and urban community funds nationwide during June-July 2026. If a fund submits complete and correct documentation, NVUCO will expedite the allocation of additional capital so that members can benefit from reduced interest burdens promptly.
Currently, Thailand has over 79,610 Village and Urban Community Funds, covering more than 12 million people nationwide. These funds are a crucial mechanism for promoting occupations, generating income, and increasing economic opportunities for people at the grassroots level. It is expected that the "Thai Helps Thai" project, with its capital increase and 50/50 interest rate sharing scheme, will alleviate financial burdens and benefit more than 8 million Village Fund members. "The government is committed to using all available mechanisms to provide targeted assistance to the people, including reducing debt burdens, increasing liquidity, and strengthening the grassroots economy. This will enable people to overcome economic challenges reliably and achieve a tangible improvement in their quality of life," said Ms. Lalida.