Bangkok: Commerce Ministry's Supajee announced its 90-day performance, highlighting cost-of-living reductions of 818 million baht, economic value generated of 2,900 million baht, and 17.6% export growth in the first half of the year. She also outlined seven steps forward: accelerating trade negotiations, aiming for double-digit export growth of at least 10% by 2026 (with a projected achievable 10%), maintaining agricultural commodity stability, intensifying efforts against nominee trading, and addressing structural problems.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Ms. Supajee Suthamphan, emphasized the Ministry's efforts in navigating challenges such as geopolitics, energy costs, the middle-income trap, and labor skills development. The Ministry has implemented five key policies aimed at managing the cost of living and generating income, maintaining stability and increasing agricultural product value, strengthening SMEs and communities, balancing exports, and advancing service technology while removing regulatory barriers.
In cost management and income generation, the Ministry's "Thai Helps Thai" project has been pivotal, connecting products and distribution channels across various regions. This initiative has successfully reduced the cost of living by over 818 million baht and created economic value in excess of 2,900 million baht. The Ministry's approach to agricultural products involves managing the full supply chain, from production to marketing, to proactively tackle issues and stabilize prices.
The Ministry of Commerce reported significant price increases in several agricultural products. Notably, jasmine rice rose to 17,500 baht/ton, an 8.57% increase; white rice to 9,050 baht/ton, up 27.05%; palm oil to 8.70 baht/kg, up 45%; rubber to 36 baht/kg, up 30%; cassava to 3.65 baht/kg, up 79%; and animal feed corn to 7.28 baht/kg, up 6%.
For fragrant coconuts, the Ministry addressed issues throughout the supply chain, resulting in price increases from approximately 3-5 baht per coconut to 10-11.50 baht per coconut. The number of participating rice producers expanded to 466 groups, with innovative agricultural products generating 290 million baht in trade value.
In strengthening SMEs and community economies, Thailand's approximately 3.28 million SMEs, which constitute 99.5% of all businesses and contribute 34.8% to GDP, benefit from the Ministry's strategies. These strategies support entrepreneurs from startup to scale, develop leaders, and facilitate regional upgrades while removing operational obstacles.
To prevent the misuse of Thai nationals as nominees, the Ministry collaborates with 23 agencies across 46 areas, reporting a 75% reduction in nominee numbers among high-risk groups and committing to continued inspections to ensure fair competition.
On the international trade front, the Ministry is focused on balancing exports by maintaining current markets and entering new ones through expedited free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and key partner discussions. The first half of 2026 saw exports expand by 17.6%, with trade promotion activities generating over 145,393 million baht.
The Ministry is advancing service technology and regulatory streamlining through "MOC Plus," using AI for public services, such as chatbots and trademark AI assistants. AI is also employed to analyze data, enhance service efficiency, and modernize intellectual property laws to reduce business costs and boost competitiveness.
Ms. Supajee elaborated on the Ministry's future plans, detailing "7 steps" including accelerating trade negotiations, achieving double-digit export growth by 2026, maintaining agricultural price stability, intensifying nominee structure crackdowns, supporting trade, tourism, and community economics, extending the "Thai Helps Thai" project, and removing operational barriers.
Regarding trade negotiations, Ms. Supajee highlighted the need for swift resolutions to reduce business uncertainties, especially in US trade. Despite external challenges like transportation and energy prices, if annual export value surpasses 12 trillion baht, double-digit growth is feasible.
In agriculture, the Ministry aims to stabilize prices for key commodities such as rice, cassava, animal feed corn, oil palm, and rubber, along with managing fruit production. Ms. Supajee expressed satisfaction with the agricultural sector's progress, noting positive impacts on prices and farmers' income, and stressed the importance of structural management for long-term solutions.