Economy
FTI Proposes Economic Stimulus Plan for Second Half of 2026
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has unveiled a strategy to boost the economy, targeting a 140 billion baht GDP increase through capacity utilization improvements.
On August 24, 2026, Matichon Online reported that the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is pushing for a new economic stimulus strategy for the second half of the year. The FTI aims to increase capacity utilization (CapU) by five percentage points, which they estimate could contribute approximately 140 billion baht to the national GDP.
Central to this proposal is the 'Buy Thai' initiative, which the FTI intends to pair with efforts to unlock production bottlenecks. By encouraging the consumption of locally manufactured goods and streamlining industrial output, the FTI hopes to create a more robust economic environment.
For residents and travelers, this initiative may signal a shift in the availability and promotion of domestic products. If successful, the plan could lead to increased industrial activity and potentially influence local market dynamics. However, the specific mechanisms for implementing these production unlocks and the timeline for the 'Buy Thai' campaign remain to be confirmed. As this is a proposal from an industry body, it is not yet clear how government policy will align with these suggestions or what specific impact this will have on consumer prices and product variety in the coming months.