Thai Ministry of Commerce Targets 1.9 Billion Baht Savings for SMEs via Platform Fee Reductions
The Thai Ministry of Commerce is pushing for reduced Gross Profit (GP) fees on major e-commerce platforms to support 1.2 million SMEs facing rising operational costs.
According to a report by Prachachat Business, the Thai Ministry of Commerce is actively seeking to alleviate financial pressure on 1.2 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by negotiating lower Gross Profit (GP) fees with major e-commerce platforms, including Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. The initiative aims to generate approximately 1.9 billion baht in savings for these businesses.
The President of the SME Council highlighted that GP fees have surged from approximately 8% to between 17% and 18%, significantly impacting the profit margins and operational costs of small vendors. This trend has prompted calls for the government to establish clearer regulatory guidelines to manage platform fees and ensure a sustainable balance between the interests of SMEs and the digital marketplaces.
For residents and business owners in Thailand, this development is significant as it may influence the pricing and availability of goods on popular digital platforms. While the government is pushing for these reductions to provide relief, the specific mechanisms for implementation and the formal commitments from the platforms remain to be confirmed. Stakeholders are currently waiting for the government to finalize the regulatory framework that will govern these platform fee structures moving forward.
