Japan agrees B13bn loan

The Royal Gazette has published the Finance Ministry’s announcement involving a loan agreement worth 50 billion yen (13.2 billion baht) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to bolster the nation’s Covid-19 emergency response.

The announcement on Thursday follows the signing of the loan agreement between Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and the chief representative of Jica’s Thailand office, Morita Takahiro, on May 3.

Under the agreement, the loan is to be repaid within 15 years — plus a four-year grace period — with the annual interest set at 0.01%.

Thailand will make two payments each year, on May 20 and Nov 20, with the first payment due on May 20, 2026, and the last one in May 2037.

The front-end fee is 0.2% of the loan, which must be paid within 60 days of the loan agreement taking effect.

Speaking earlier, Mr Arkhom said it would…