Commerce Ministry helps flood victims in Chiang Rai Business September 28, 20240 Ministry of Commerce rushes to help Chiang Rai residents, coordinates with private sector to take care of essential goods, prevent shortages, prevent high prices, cooperates with Central Chiang Rai to open free space for entrepreneurs who are in trouble to sell goods. Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Commerce, revealed that while visiting the area to monitor the flood situation in Chiang Mai Province with Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, yesterday (27 September), from the meeting and from monitoring the situation in the area, the Prime Minister is concerned about the people affected by the flood. Therefore, the Ministry of Commerce has ordered the agencies under its supervision to implement measures to help farmers, people, and business operators who have been affected, including taking care of essential goods to prevent shortages or taking the opportunity to raise prices, which will affect the people. The Ministry of Commerce has therefore joined forces with over 50 private sectors to prov ide 2,000 sets of essential household cleaning equipment, such as floor brushes, squeegees, floor cleaners, laundry detergent, blankets, mattresses, etc., to flood victims in Chiang Rai Province. and ordered the Department of Internal Trade to coordinate with producers and entrepreneurs to urgently purchase products in flooded areas and to take care of farmers so that they can sell their products at a reasonable price. As for the public and entrepreneurs, the Department of Business Development has relaxed the submission of accounting documents, financial statements, and legal entity registration applications that must be submitted as required by law. In addition, we have coordinated with prototype wholesale and retail stores under the supervision of the Department of Business Development to sell products at special prices and coordinated with the Thai Wholesale and Retail Association, prototype stores in the area, and Makro to jointly rehabilitate the flooded wholesale and retail stores, helping create jobs for flood victims by reducing special fees for franchise buyers. As for taking care of products necessary for living and home repairs, we have coordinated with wholesale and retail stores, local stores, convenience stores, and stores selling construction materials and equipment, such as HomePro, Thai Watsadu, Dohome, Global House, Mega Home, Makro, Big C, Lotus, Go Wholesale, 7-Eleven, the Thai Retail and Wholesale Heirs Club, and Nimseseng Company Limited to supply products to the area and take care of transportation. In this regard, the provincial commercial office has been instructed to supervise the posting of price signs and to strictly prohibit any opportunistic price increases. If any wrongdoing is found, legal action will be taken strictly. In the case of not posting price signs, there will be a fine not exceeding 10,000 baht, and in the case of selling goods at unreasonably high prices, there will be a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 7 years or a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht, or both. The Department of Business Development is moving forward with economic recovery in disaster areas after the floods recede. Franchise Roadshow activities are organized, with franchises and financial institutions joining the event to help SMEs and people affected by the floods so that they can start new businesses and quickly revive their existing businesses. Central Chiang Rai is opening up space for entrepreneurs affected by floods in Chiang Rai and neighboring provinces to bring their products and services to sell in the mall for free. The event will be held from 25 to 29 September 2024 on the G floor, GRAND HALL zone, Central Chiang Rai shopping mall!. Source: Thai News Agency