Thai government increases 2025 budget deficit for economic boost

The Government of Thailand has sanctioned a rise in the 2025 budget deficit by an extra 153 billion baht, to instigate an economic boost. As a result, the budget will increase to 3.752 trillion baht, a significant hike from the previously planned 3.6 trillion, according to Chalermphol Pensoot, the Budget Bureau director at the Ministry of Finance.

The budget deficit will therefore expand to 865.7 billion baht, which is an increase of 152.7 billion baht from the prior target, Pensoot revealed today, April 2.

The 2025 fiscal year kicks off on October 1. The government approved the 2024 budget far behind schedule due to holdups in government formation following the election in May of the previous year.

The budget amendment announcement for 2025 is timely as the government is currently exploring funding sources for its 500-billion-baht digital wallet scheme. This is a one-time…