BANGKOK: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas will meet the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA) on Monday (Sept 22) to discuss debt issues facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a well-informed source said on Sunday (Sept 21).
The source said Anutin, Ekniti—who also serves as deputy prime minister—together with Deputy Finance Minister Woraphak Thanyawong and their economic team, will meet TBA president Payong Srivanich and association members at the TBA head office on Chaeng Wattana Road at 9am.
Anutin and his team are expected to hear proposals from the TBA on how the government should address current economic challenges.
The discussions will focus on SMEs’ difficulties in accessing loans and their debt burdens, as SMEs are considered highly vulnerable to the economic slowdown and the appreciation of the baht, which does not reflect underlying economic conditions.
The source said the meeting is expected to seek solutions to improve SMEs’ access to credit and restore liquidity for the sector, which plays a fundamental role in Thailand’s economy. - The Nation/ANN
