Thai government to distribute 10,000 baht through Pao Tang digital wallet from May next year
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed the distribution of 10,000 baht through the Pao Tang digital wallet, indicating readiness with over 1.8 million familiar shops. The public can start using it from May next year.
At 2pm this afternoon, at the Government House, the 61 year old prime minister and Finance Minister, announced the policy of the 10,000 baht top-up program through the digital wallet. He addressed concerns about the ease of use and participation, announcing the development of the Pao Tang digital wallet system, which has 40 million registered public users and over 1.8 million familiar shops. Pao Tang is technologically ready to reduce time and budget duplication.
The Ministry of Finance is familiar with the supervision and prevention of various forms of corruption. They will develop a Pao Tang digital wallet with blockchain technology in the background as a basic structure to prevent corruption. If anyone breaches the system, it can be checked immediately.
Having a blockchain will develop basic structures, create transparency, and reduce tangible corruption. This can be used once it passes the interpretation by the attorney general by the end of this year. Introduced to the parliament early next year, the budget will be prepared and the public can use it from May next year, reported KhaoSod.
Prior to that, there will be E-Refunds from January next year, and the capacity-building project can start from June 2024. This must go through a legal process, and work tightly before entering the Cabinet, to get further approval.
In other news, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) conducted a poll regarding the upcoming digital wallet handout scheme, gauging the sentiment of 1,310 respondents aged 18 and older from a wide variety of social backgrounds between October 31 and November 2.
The results revealed a widespread belief that the government’s 10,000-baht digital cash handout should be extended to all Thais, regardless of their income or savings. Read more about this story HERE.
