Bangkok: The Thai Chamber of Commerce is in the process of compiling a comprehensive white paper to address the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across five regions in Thailand. This document is scheduled to be submitted to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on June 10th. The initiative comes as the Northeastern Chamber of Commerce urgently calls for measures to combat the drought and El Ni±o phenomenon, and proposes transforming the region into an agricultural and food hub. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Supajee Suthamphan expressed satisfaction with China's recognition of Thailand as a regional production and logistics base during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Poj Aamwattananon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Chambers of Commerce, is set to convene a meeting with chairmen from the five regional chambers at the end of May. The goal is to collect input from the business sector and SME entrepreneurs to create the "white paper." This document will be presented to the Prime Minister to tackle the critical issues facing SMEs.
Somchart Pongphanakrai, President of the Northeastern Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the severe challenges currently impacting small businesses, such as declining purchasing power, rising costs, and a lack of liquidity. SMEs have reportedly seen a 50% drop in revenue, and the upcoming third quarter poses additional threats from drought and the El Ni±o phenomenon, potentially harming agricultural output.
In response, the Northeastern Chamber of Commerce is developing a "Quick Win" plan, advocating for urgent government action in water management and proposing the postponement of property and sign tax collections. Additionally, they plan to recommend a long-term strategy to restructure the region into an agricultural and food hub. The Southern Chamber of Commerce is also crafting proposals aimed at facilitating trade and investment to support a land bridge project, which will be presented at the Cabinet meeting on June 8th and 9th.
Deputy Prime Minister Supajee Suthamphan shared insights from her participation in the 2026 APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Suzhou, China. She noted that discussions centered on free trade systems, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and green economy promotion. Thailand proposed strategies to reduce regulatory trade disparities and enhance supply chain connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing its commitment to leading efforts in food security and high-value agriculture. This aligns with Thailand's ambition to solidify its status as a reliable production and logistics hub sustainably.