The government has approved a Bt88million budget to construct a building to accommodate Siam Square entrepreneurs who lost their shops in the red shirt riot.
"The construction of the semipermanent building should be completed within 25 days," PM's secretarygeneral Korbsak Sabhavasu said yesterday.
He added that the building would provide the affected entrepreneurs with free space for up to six months.
While waiting for the construction to be completed, Korbsak said, the entrepreneurs affected by the riot would be allowed to operate stalls at a corner of Siam Square for free.
"They can start running their stalls from today onward. We are committed to giving the means of livelihood back to the affected entrepreneurs as soon as possible," Korbsak added.
The entrepreneurs are also each entitled to Bt50,000 financial assistance from the government.
The SME Bank is now offering loans with generous conditions to the entrepreneurs hurt by the unrest.
The loans are interestfree if the loan amount is not higher than Bt300,000.
"And the loan recipients can start repaying the principal two years later," Korbsak said.
He added that the SME Bank would quickly process the loan applications filed by the affected entrepreneurs.