PM Kicks Off "Thai Help Thai, Capital Boost, Half-and-Half Interest" — Injecting Over 4.4 Billion Baht in Capital to Communities Nationwide, Helping People Access Funding, Reduce Reliance on Informal Debt, Create Jobs and Boost Income
Today (10 August 2026) at 10:30 a.m. at Santimaitree Building, Government House, Miss Rachada Thanadirek, Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, presided over the launch of the "Thai Help Thai, Capital Boost, Half-and-Half Interest" project, aimed at expanding opportunities for people to access formal sources of funding at appropriate costs, so they can pursue occupations, generate income, and reduce dependence on informal debt. The government has allocated a budget of over 4,452 million baht, channelled through 79,610 village and community funds across the country.
Before the ceremony began, attendees observed a moment of silence in mourning for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavadee, Princess of Rajasarinee Siriphattra Mahawajira Rathibodi. The Prime Minister stated that the government places great importance on resolving people's livelihood problems and strengthening the grassroots economy, because for many people the issue is not a lack of ability or occupation, but rather a "lack of start-up capital" or inability to access formal credit, which forces them to turn to informal loans carrying high interest rates.
The "Thai Help Thai, Capital Boost, Half-and-Half Interest" project therefore brings capital closer to the people through village funds, urban community funds, and military community funds — totalling 79,610 funds across the country — in order to increase liquidity and working capital so that members can expand their occupations, invest in trade, or generate income for their families, with a reduced interest burden in accordance with the project's guidelines.
"The government's goal is to ensure that people who want to make a living have the opportunity to access formal capital, without having to start out with informal debt. The more than 4.4 billion baht flowing into funds across the country is therefore not merely a matter of topping up the funds — it must be transformed into occupational capital, family income, and circulating money within communities. When ordinary people can access capital, the grassroots economy has the opportunity to grow alongside them," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the government wants village and urban community funds to serve as genuine financial mechanisms that people can truly access, helping to close the gap in access to funding sources and creating alternatives for those who might otherwise depend on informal debt, enabling them to return to a fairer financial system. He also instructed relevant agencies to drive the project to reach people comprehensively and produce tangible results. After the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition and booths set up by village fund representatives from various areas, which showcased community products including handicrafts, food, local specialties, and herbal products — reflecting how community-level capital can be developed further into occupations, income, and economic activities at the local level.
Mr. Anutin gave an interview after presiding over the opening ceremony of a workshop to raise awareness of revolving capital sources for occupational development under the "Thai Help Thai, Capital Boost, Half-and-Half Interest" project for village and urban community funds, saying that today's measures are intended to reduce costs for village fund members, who are the people forming the foundation of the country, channelled through the Village Fund Office. The approach will have each village fund consider credit and loan applications submitted by villagers on a case-by-case basis. Once a loan has been approved, the village fund will notify the borrower of the interest terms. The government has approved a budget of 4,500 million baht to co-contribute to the interest on a half-and-half basis, which will lower the cost burden for people running various businesses, allowing them to earn higher income. It will also serve as one avenue to avoid relying on informal loans, which carry high costs and numerous conditions — and where a business misstep could leave a person utterly destitute — something that will not happen under this fund.
Mr. Anutin said that the Village Fund Office is also working to connect insurance companies to provide coverage for risk at a certain level. If insurance companies are able to take on that risk, it would mean that the businesses people are running will certainly have better prospects and will bring greater stability to the financial system of people at the grassroots level.
When asked what benefits the public would gain from this project, the Prime Minister said that at the very least, the interest rate would be halved — people need to borrow anyway, and if their application is approved by the village fund, the government will cover half of the interest.
