Registration begins for flood-hit plants in need of low-interest loans
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The Industry Ministry yesterday began the registration of factories that have been affected by the recent flooding and need soft loans for rehabilitation.
The Cabinet last week approved soft loans of about Bt210 billion for inundated businesses. Commercial banks and some state-owned banks such as Government Saving Bank will make available the funds.
Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul yesterday said the loans would be for seven years. The interest on these soft loans has been set at a fixed rate of 3 per cent per annum for three years, while the rate for the remaining four years will depend on the market rate.
He said businesses seriously affected in the inundated provinces would be eligible for the soft loans. The loans will be approved immediately on completion of the damage-verification process.
Businesses in the industrial sector, the services sector including hotels, restaurants and healthcare, and the logistics sector can register for the soft loans. Flood-hit businesses that need the loans can register online at www.diw.go.th/flood54 or by mail to all agencies under the Industry Ministry. The registration is open until January 31.
The Cabinet last week approved aids and loans for both individuals and businesses, worth Bt325 billion. Of the total, Bt210 billion is for businesses – Bt50 billion for large-scale businesses and Bt160 billion for small and medium-sized enterprises – while the rest will be for individuals.
Artit Wuthikaro, director-general of the Industrial Works Department of the Industry Ministry, said there were about 40,000 factories in 31 inundated provinces in the department’s database but it could not assess yet how many of them will register for the soft loans.
