July 21, 2021, at 1420hrs, at PMOC Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha presided over a meeting via teleconference with the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, and 40 CEOs from the country’s leading firms to discuss possible cooperation between the public and private sectors in response to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri disclosed gist of the meeting as follows:

The Prime Minister thanked representatives of the private sector for convening today to help the Government in tackling with the increasingly threatening COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has not stayed idle and strived to solve the problem in an inclusive manner. As of July 20, 2021, over 14 million doses of vaccine have been given to the public. Various assistance/remedy measures have also been implemented, such as soft loans, consumption stimulus measures (e.g., Half-Half scheme with the spending of over 33 billion Baht so far), and stimulus measures for tourism and related businesses (i.e., Phuket Sandbox, Samui Model Plus). The Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand and private sector have also given useful advices to the Government, some of which were immediately brought into action. The Prime Minister also emphasized that Thailand is now facing with serious challenges, and there is a need to reduce conflict, and create awareness through proactive PR, as both the Government and the private sector share the same goal, which is, to lead the country out of this crisis.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, on behalf of the 40 CEOs, expressed appreciation toward the Prime Minister for convening the meeting, and proposed 4 key agendas as follows: