At 3:30 PM on May 19, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra chaired the second meeting of the 2025 Economic Stimulus Policy Committee at Government House. Key cabinet members and high-ranking officials, including Deputy Prime Ministers Phumtham Wechayachai, Pichai Chunhavajira, Anutin Charnvirakul, and Prasert Chandraruangthong, along with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Thailand, and other related agencies, were present.
After the hour-long meeting, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the digital wallet project needs to be reviewed. Finance Minister Pichai later confirmed that the 157-billion-baht economic stimulus budget is being reconsidered to address more immediate structural issues such as water access, agriculture, and transportation.
The government aims to redirect spending towards infrastructure projects—such as high-speed rail, dual-track railways, roads—and the tourism sector. Plans will prioritize urgent matters and also include measures to support SMEs and create employment. A dedicated subcommittee will screen and monitor project spending.
Regarding the urgency of the digital wallet initiative, Minister Pichai clarified that the project is postponed until the situation becomes more favorable. He stressed that this decision is not due to a lack of funding, but rather a shift in priorities and emerging constraints.
When asked if this move was merely buying time, Pichai denied the claim, stating that the project could be revisited later if conditions improve, as it is a direct economic stimulus. For now, however, job creation is the government's primary focus.