They said they would march to the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) annual meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday to deliver a letter to provincial governors to help stop the retail giants' expansion.

Representatives of small retailers yesterday met Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet to ask for assistance to save their businesses if the ministry failed to control the expansion plans of the big, mainly foreign-owned retailers.

Nirut Vacharapichart, a representative of the Opposition to Multinational Business Union, said about 500 small retailers who suffered from the multinational expansion would participate in the mission of the union in a bid to seek a clear principle from the government to save their business.

"We [small retailers] want a concrete measure to help control giant retailers' expansion. The government must set a clear measure soon, otherwise, we will protest at the National Legislative Assembly," he said.

Small retailers have called for the government to urgently implement the Retail Business Act, after a long wait since the ouster of the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

Krirkkrai said the government was trying to find a fair measure to help small retailers while maintaining the confidence of foreign investors.

He said the ministry had not yet finalised the draft amendment to the Retail Business Act, but would seek a clear solution to help protect small retailers.

The ministry formed a committee to review an amendment to the Retail Business Act last month.

The committee, led by TCC vice president Sompob Amartayakul, is expected to finalise its work within 60 days.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation