Tawatchai KemgumnerdThe government yesterday approved a budget of 3.26 billion baht to finance projects aimed at strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in fiscal 2017. The SMEs include those with non-performing loans, those whose loans are turning sour and those that are refinancing or are failing to repay debts on schedule. The rehabilitation plan may cost about 2 billion baht out of the total budget approved. The government will also financially sponsor knowledge centres to help SMEs with innovation and expansion overseas. According to Osmep's 2015 annual report, there were approximately 2.7 million SMEs at the end of 2015, employing around 10 million people, particularly in the tourism, construction and wholesale sectors.

Source: Bangkok Post November 16, 2016 23:36 UTC