Sa kaeo: The Ministry of Commerce is moving forward to accelerate the clearance of surplus products along the Thai-Cambodian border after the Prime Minister visited Sa Kaeo Province and ordered immediate assistance for farmers and small traders. Eighteen activities are being prepared in seven border provinces, covering the opening of sales points, organizing promotions in shopping malls, and helping SMEs access loans.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wutthikrai Leewiraphan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, disclosed that after Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, visited Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, and ordered the urgent clearance of agricultural products such as watermelon, santol, and rose apples, the ministry coordinated with the Sa Kaeo Provincial Commerce Office and related agencies to start bringing products into the domestic market through the Blue Flag project immediately.
The Ministry of Commerce is also preparing to organize 18 activities over the next one to two months, covering seven border provinces: Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Buriram, Surin, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat. This initiative is in collaboration with modern trade retailers and local agencies to open sales areas and organize promotions to stimulate purchases, aiding over 1,200 merchants who have been directly affected.
In addition, the Department of Business Development has coordinated with financial institutions such as SME D Bank and Government Savings Bank to consider loan guidelines to help both small and large entrepreneurs affected by the border situation.
In the next phase, the Ministry of Commerce will enhance the potential of entrepreneurs in border areas to handle uncertain situations by organizing training in business management, the use of technology and innovation, Soft Power, and online marketing to create sustainability for the trade system in the area.
As for the adjustment of the freight route, the ministry is in discussions with relevant agencies to facilitate entrepreneurs to ship goods to Cambodia as much as possible.
Meanwhile, the Department of International Trade Promotion has expanded its approach to finding new markets instead of Cambodia, starting with ASEAN countries and eventually expanding to other regions to mitigate risks from the original market and open up long-term trade opportunities.
The Department of Internal Trade is preparing to organize a campaign to promote Thai fruit consumption (Fruits Festival 2025) nationwide and is coordinating with retail stores, government agencies, private companies, and airlines to continuously purchase fruit from farmers, which has received positive cooperation so far.
The Ministry of Commerce will monitor the situation, listen to problems, and urgently coordinate with all sectors so that assistance measures can reach the area quickly and efficiently.