The government is preparing a fresh round of discussions with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to advance economic measures following a recent meeting with leaders from 10 private-sector groups, according to a government source.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul plans to continue organising regular discussion forums between the government and business representatives, with the next round of talks focusing on SMEs as part of 10 groups identified for consultation.
The planned meeting follows the May 15 forum titled "Entrepreneurs Speak, Government Listens", which gathered input from leading private-sector representatives to support joint economic development.
It marked the first time the government had formally established a platform for direct dialogue with private-sector groups on economic policy and business concerns.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has proposed a new structure for the joint public-private committee to address economic issues, the source said.
The new panel will not include as many members as other national committees. Instead, it will comprise only key government agencies needed to turn private-sector proposals presented during meetings with the prime minister into practical policy.
Chaired by the prime minister, the committee consists of an assigned deputy prime minister, relevant agency heads and representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers' Association.
It is intended to support major economic restructuring and help translate private-sector proposals into concrete action more effectively. Mr Anutin is expected to sign an order establishing the new committee soon, the source said.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Sophon Zarum said on Friday that an extraordinary committee to scrutinise the government's 400-billion-baht emergency loan decree could wait until the Constitutional Court issues a ruling.
He was responding to an urgent motion by the opposition People's Party seeking to set up a committee to examine the planned spending.
Mr Sophon said the Constitutional Court, which accepted a petition challenging the legality of the decree, has up to 60 days to consider the case.
He said the government had not yet taken any action involving the use of funds and that the process remained in the preparatory stage.
The House speaker said he had no objection to efforts to ensure proper scrutiny of the public funds and stressed that the decision to set up a committee rested with members of parliament rather than with him personally.
