Thai Enquirer News Summary – September 10, 2026

On September 10, 2026, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) unveiled three measures to bolster funding for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) amidst a 16-quarter decline in lending to this sector. Governor Vitai Ratanakorn revealed an SME Credit Portal connecting businesses to banks and non-bank lenders, a new guaranteed lending mechanism expected to facilitate an additional 100 billion Baht annually, and a Data Bureau utilizing utility bills, payment records, and e-statements for borrower assessments.

SMEs constitute 13.6 million jobs, or 70% of Thailand’s workforce, and contribute 35% to the nation's GDP. However, only 20-21% of the top-performing SMEs secure loans, versus 61% for robust large companies. The share of "zombie firms"—businesses unable to cover interest payments—rose from 2% to nearly 6%. The central bank will prioritize assistance for viable and profitable SMEs with growth potential, comprising about 38% of the sector.

Meanwhile, the Thai government announced subsidies of 50,000 Baht per household for solar-panel installations, aiming to reach one million households with a budget of 50 billion Baht. The Interior Ministry is contemplating expansion to 1.5 million homes. State-owned banks will offer loans, repayable through selling excess electricity back to the grid; a five-kilowatt system is projected to generate approximately 1,000 Baht monthly for low-use households.

Funded via the second tranche of the government’s borrowing decree, the initiative targets completion by the end of 2027, complemented by national power grid upgrades and support for domestic solar manufacturing.