Thai PM to visit SMEs in Songkhla Wednesday

BANGKOK, May 22 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit small- and medium-sized enterprises in Songkhla to promote their business development under the government's SME fund project Wednesday. Permanent secretary for Industry Somchai Harnhirun, as chairman of the executive committee of the 20-billion-baht SME Development Fund, said Prime Minister Prayut’s visit to Songkhla is scheduled on May 24. During his visit, the prime minister will meet and grant funds to local entrepreneurs in six southern provinces as part of the policy for the SME development. In addition, Mr Somchai said the Industry Ministry is planning to hold seminars on government’s funds for SMEs in eight pilot provinces – Chon Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Krabi, Songkhla, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. He added that each province is about to begin providing loans for qualified SMEs whose their businesses either are involved in targeted industries under the country’s S-curve model or are vital to provincial strategies. The S-curve is a model under which new businesses with high technology and innovation are created at a time when company growth reaches a peak and begins to taper. (TNA)