Blue flag low-ECT to expand
The Commerce Ministry will today seek Cabinet approval for a Bt2 billion budget for its Blue Flag consumer-goods fairs next fiscal year. The fairs are aimed at easing the impact of the rising cost of living.
Permanent secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said the ministry sought funds to organise more low-price fairs amid concern over higher prices in the coming months.
About 1,000 Blue Flag fairs are planned next fiscal year starting October, compared with 639 fairs this fiscal year.
The ministry is concerned that higher operating costs will force many producers to raise their retail prices, but believes inflation can be brought under control at about 3.7 per cent next year, Yanyong said.
Under the Blue Flag project, essential goods and foods are sold at 20-40 per cent below market prices.
The Mega Blue Flag Fair will be held at Impact Muang Thong Thani from tomorrow to Sunday. (Sep 14-18) The five-day fair is expected to save shoppers between Bt120 million and Bt130 million.
In addition, the National Rice Policy Committee last week approved the urgent distribution of 60,000 tonnes of rice in small packages to flood victims.
Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong acknowledged that the flooding could curb the country's economic growth slightly. However, gross domestic product should grow steadily on significant export expansion, he said.
To ensure domestic growth, the government is surveying the impact of the disaster and seeking measures to help flood-affected small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Transport Ministry will also seek Cabinet approval to extend the free-ride measure for buses and trains until January 15 from the scheduled closing date of December 31 to serve people who travel to their home towns during the year-end festive season.
Deputy Transport Minister Chatt Kuldiloke said the ministry would discuss with the Finance Ministry and other agencies whether the measure could be extended even further.
The government believes the extension would benefit 400,000 daily bus commuters and 50,000 daily train passengers. It would add additional cost to Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to Bt192 million a month from current Bt180 million a month and that on the State Railway of Thailand to Bt80 million a month from Bt30 million a month.
The previous government extended the measure, which was originally supposed to end in June, until December 31 to ease the cost of living.
