Industry Ministry asks for Bt18 bn

The ministry recently received an additional budget for fiscal 2009 of only Bt500 million, drastically less than the Bt16 billion it asked for. The figure is very small compared with the total value of the industrial sector, which has investments of more than Bt500 billion to Bt600 billion a year.

"During the economic slowdown, if the ministry receives a small budget, it will lead to a higher number of jobless," Charnchai said.

Permanent secretary Damri Sukhothanang agreed the additional Bt500 million allocated for fiscal 2009 was too little, especially because the ministry had outlined a strategy for resolving problems facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He said the plan was designed to resolve problems in the industrial sector through 2010.

The plan entails supporting SMEs by looking for new markets; focusing on autos and auto parts, electronics and furniture; increasing the competitiveness of SMEs; and improving rules and regulations for the whole industrial sector.

"The budget of Bt500 million will help SMEs resolve a few problems, such as product development and finding new markets," Damri said.

The permanent secretary said the Industry Ministry would ask the Labour Ministry, which received a budget of Bt6.9 billion, for a share of its money.