Category: The Bangkok Post

The annual Vegetarian Festival returns in this ninth lunar month. This year, the 10-day festivity falls from Oct 21 to 29. Every year, vegetarian options become more diverse and vibrant given that consumers increasingly opt for veganism due to various reasons.

According to statistics from the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy, Thailand’s plant-based food market has reached 45 billion baht and is expected to grow by 10% – reaching 49.5 billion baht by the end of 2025. Basically, this is a period where people can practise purity, inside and out. Meat and all meat-derived products as well as five pungent vegetables including garlic, onions, chives, rakkyo (elephant garlic) and tobacco are to be avoided.

To celebrate the annual Vegetarian Festival and the continuous expansion of Thailand’s vegan market, Life presents a line-up of leading hotels that curate interesting meatless treats.

Centara Hotel and Resorts

Centara Hotels and Resorts is taking the spirit of veganism global as Centara chefs are presenting creative vegan Thai dishes not only during the festival, but throughout the year across properties in Thailand, the Maldives, Japan and Dubai.

For those into Thai cuisine, Suan Bua at Centara Grand at CentralPlaza Lardprao embraces its “Food as Medicine” philosophy with dishes that revive rare Thai herbs in vegan form. Tofu herbal spring rolls are wrapped with Japanese mint, holy basil and pak plaw, each chosen for its natural healing properties. Kaeng liang nop gao, a royal-inspired vegetable soup, combines nine seasonal vegetables for balance and auspiciousness.

Further away in provinces, Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Hua Hin’s chefs highlight wolffia green curry, a fresh take on the national favourite enriched with wolffia, the world’s smallest edible plant and a local superfood packed with protein. At Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, the signature mee hoon gaeng tao hoo replaces crab with tofu in a southern Thai curry vermicelli, allowing guests to enjoy the depth of coconut, turmeric and spice without seafood.

Even Thai street-food staples are included. Guests can try a healthy vegan pad Thai at Centara Life Bangkok Phra Nakhon, while at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, a quinoa rice noodle salad with roasted chilli-tomato salsa, grilled king oyster mushrooms and tofu nuggets pays homage to traditional nam prik dipping sauces with a modern, plant-based twist.

Must-try: Tofu herbal spring rolls at Suan Bua.

Centara Grand at CentralWorld

From Oct 21-29, Ventisi Restaurant serves specially curated vegetarian à la carte dishes. Among the highlights are deep-fried taro spring rolls, crisp on the outside and soft within; a spicy mixed mushroom salad; and coconut milk and galangal soup with vegetables.

Other highlights include fried tofu with mixed vegetables in gravy sauce, stir-fried noodles with vegetables in rich brown sauce.

These vegetarian dishes will be served alongside Ventisi’s regular fare from its Italian and Thai live cooking stations, as well as its extensive international buffet selection featuring appetisers, salads, soups and desserts.

Must-try: Deep-fried taro spring rolls.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok

Front Room, the signature Thai restaurant at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, celebrates the Vegetarian Festival with an à la carte menu available for both lunch and dinner.

This year’s vegetarian or jay menu showcases plant-based interpretations of Thai dishes, including yam dok mai moo krob (spicy flower salad with pomelo and plant-based crispy pork); kanom jeeb and salapao (vegetarian shumai dumplings, taro spring roll and steamed bun with vegetables); tao hoo song kruang (crispy tofu with seasonal vegetables and gravy); pad kana Hong Kong sauce hed (stir-fried Hong Kong kale with mushroom sauce, tofu skin and mushroom powder); panang tao hoo klong ngae (red curry with klong ngae tofu and chilli dressing); and kanom kho gluay sai tua (banana rice flour dough with peanut filling and coconut sauce).

InterContinental Bangkok

Award-winning Summer Palace restaurant at InterContinental Bangkok recently announced a Special Vegetarian Menu under the helm of executive Chinese chef Shui Wing Yau. Through myriad Cantonese dishes done right, chef Shui brings his considerable experience to bear in a menu that comprises healthy and flavourful dishes such as bean curd caramel and cucumber with chilli sauce salad; double-boiled bamboo pith and yellow ear mushroom soup served in a coconut shell; stir-fried vegetarian pig’s ear with Chinese yam and black bean sauce; stir-fried taro and fresh mushroom with kung pao sauce; braised eggplant with vegetarian sea cucumber served in a clay pot; braised bamboo and shiitake mushroom with green asparagus; and braised vegetarian with fermented red bean curd.

Must-try: Braised eggplant with vegetarian sea cucumber served in a clay pot.

Holiday Inn Bangkok

Holiday Inn Bangkok joins in the celebration of Thailand’s annual nine-day Vegetarian Festival with a special Kin Jay menu at Ginger.

The menu’s offerings include appetisers such as deep-fried sweetcorn fritters with red chilli curry paste, and Thai spicy bean curd with roasted rice and a refreshing salad of mint leaves. From the many and varied main course offerings, signature recommendations include green curry with bean curd, vegetables and basil, and a piquant dish of stir-fried bean curd with ginger and black mushroom jelly.

Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel

Culinary team at Fei Ya, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, transforms classic vegetarian cuisine into an elevated dining experience. Highlights include braised bean curd with black mushrooms and Sichuan pickles, a refined dish where silky tofu and earthy mushrooms are elevated by a gentle hint of spice, and the wok-tossed silk gourd with black ear mushrooms and goji berries, a nourishing combination of delicate textures and natural sweetness.

The menu also features the braised eggplant with aromatic soybean paste, slow-cooked to perfection to bring out rich, comforting depth, and the silken bean curd soup with dried seaweed, a light yet satisfying choice ideal for mindful dining. Each dish celebrates freshness and the artistry of fine vegetarian cuisine, transforming simple ingredients into sophisticated culinary expressions.

Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15

Here at Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, a vegan/vegetarian brunch buffet is actually available every second and fourth Saturday of the month until Dec 31 which is perfect for full-time vegan practitioners looking for a place to dine out outside the Vegetarian Festival.

The extensive brunch menu features highlights from Thai, Japanese, Mediterranean, Italian, Chinese, Korean and Indian cuisines — all carefully crafted with 75% vegan and 25% vegetarian options.

However, exclusively during this year’s Vegetarian Festival, the hotel serves 3-course set menu as well as à la carte selections. Choices from the set menu include spicy grilled tofu and glass noodle salad; spicy tempeh soup with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves; crispy mushrooms with sweet chilli sauce; lentil spring rolls with sweet sauce; seared tofu with capsicum in sweet and sour sauce; stir-fried tempeh with chilli and hot basil; baked teriyaki tofu with grilled broccoli and mushrooms; and pad Thai with crispy mushrooms, tofu, beansprouts in tamarind sauce. For desserts, choices are mango sticky rice; mixed tropical fruits; and a variety of vegan ice-cream.

Must-try: Stir-fried tempeh with chilli and hot basil.

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

Throughout October, Erawan Tea Room invites diners to celebrate the Vegetarian Festival with a curated selection of authentic Thai vegetarian dishes. Dishes include spicy glass noodle salad, steamed spring rolls with tofu and vegetables, and deep-fried tofu with red curry sauce. À la carte menu also available.

Must-try: Deep-fried tofu with red curry sauce.

Dusit Princess Srinakarin Bangkok

The Mayflower Restaurant at Dusit Princess Srinakarin Bangkok joins the Vegetarian Festival celebration with dishes curated from premium ingredients. Options include sautéed Japanese tofu with mixed vegetables in soy sauce; steamed vegetarian cabbage rolls in brown sauce; three-style vegetarian soup; stewed tofu and vegetarian seafood in brown sauce; and stir-fried vegetarian pork with sweet and sour sauce.

Must-try: Steamed vegetarian cabbage rolls in brown sauce.

Mandarin Hotel Bangkok

Krua Luang Restaurant curates a special set menu with selections including deep-fried spring rolls, baked Chinese black olive with rice; or stir-fried longevity noodles, stir-fried kale with shiitake mushrooms and seaweed soup with tofu, complemented by a refreshing beverage.

Must-try: Baked Chinese black olive with rice.

Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya

Panorama restaurant at Royal Cliff Beach Pattaya curates eight special menus for the Vegetarian Festival, available from Oct 19-28. They are riceberry risotto with green peas; fiery bean casserole; homemade Chinese scissor-cut noodles; stir-fried soy protein with chilli and basil; Arabic spiced bulgur patties; stir-fried soy protein with long beans and Jain chilli; braised plant-based soy protein; and baked bell peppers.

Must-try: Homemade Chinese scissor-cut noodles.

Rosewood Bangkok

Three restaurants at Rosewood Bangkok prepare vegetarian delights for customers practising culinary purity this year.

First, G and O Café brings farm-to-table dining to life with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Signature vegetarian plates include comforting gnocchi with tomato sauce, wilted spinach, and aromatic basil.

Meanwhil, Lakorn celebrates Thailand’s four culinary regions while honouring indigenous agriculture. Vegetarian highlights range from pad pak Benjarong moo krob jay (stir-fried broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and mushroom with plant-based crispy pork) to tom kha tao hoo (Thai coconut milk soup with tofu and galangal). Light bites such as caprese avocado toast round out the menu.

Nan Bei, on the other hand, showcases flavours from both northern and southern China with an exquisite vegetarian selection. Dishes include fried bean curd, delicate spinach dumplings, organic fungus with cherry tomatoes and rice vinegar, and a comforting vegetable fried rice.

Must-try: Caprese avocado toast.

Novotel Bangkok Impact

The Square celebrates the annual Vegetarian Festival with special dishes including vegetarian “patties steak”; vegetarian stir-fried rice noodle; tortellini quinoa and spinach; and fried katsu (plant-based).

Meanwhile, 145F Grill and Bar also serves five cheese ravioli and fried katsu (plant-based) specially during this Vegetarian Festival.

Must-try: Vegetarian “patties steak”.

Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok

Stock.Room at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok offers its signature Sea+Land buffet with a selection of special plant-based dishes created exclusively for the Vegetarian Festival.

Seasonal plant-based creations are incorporated into Stock.Room’s usual line-up. Kin Jay-inspired salads, soups, pastas and Thai specialities join the usual array of fresh seafood, international stations and indulgent roasts.

South Korea is eager to conclude a free trade agreement with Thailand, President Lee Jae-myung said during talks with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing the presidential spokesman, Mr Lee and Mr Anutin agreed to accelerate efforts to finalise the pact.

‘They agreed to join hands to swiftly strike a CEPA, which is currently under negotiation,’ presidential spokesman Kim Nam-joon said after the leaders’ first phone conversation.

South Korea refers to the proposed FTA with Thailand as a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), reflecting its broader scope beyond trade issues.

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumphan earlier said that concluding the deal with South Korea was her top priority, adding that the two nations’ commitment would be formalised on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings.

South Korea will host this year’s Apec forums in Gyeongju from 28 October to 1 November, beginning with a gathering of Asia-Pacific business leaders.

During the call, Mr Anutin said he hoped to see trade and investment between the two countries double to US$30 billion from the current US$15 billion, according to a statement from Thailand’s Government House.

Despite Thailand’s 6-1 hammering of Taiwan on Tuesday night in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, their coach Masatada Ishii’s repeated warnings still ring loud.

The War Elephants did put on a spectacular show in Taipei to follow their 2-0 home victory last Thursday with goals galore.

However, what happened thousands of miles away in a town called Arkadag later on the same night has left the equation unchanged.

In the other Group D match, Turkmenistan regained control by ensuring that there was no repeat of their earlier shock defeat to Sri Lanka.

They remain in control of their destiny after sealing a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka.

The upshot means Turkmenistan are back on top of the group, level on nine points with Thailand but holding a favourable head-to-head record against the Southeast Asians.

Thailand will next play Sri Lanka in their fifth match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on Nov 18.

While Ishii was obviously happy with the three points the War Elephants picked up in style in Taipei, he did add after the match: “I am pleased with the overall performance of the team in both matches, as we won both games.

“If you ask me, we were not perfect; otherwise, we would not have allowed them to score that goal so early after the break.”

Even before the first game against Taiwan in Bangkok, Ishii had been busy telling anyone who would listen that “from now on, we need three points in every game. Against Turkmenistan we failed to do that, so we must make up for it in the matches ahead.”

The straight victories over Taiwan have changed nothing as the War Elephants still cannot afford any more slip-ups.

The Japanese coach has the air of a man who knows what he is doing and what needs to be done.

Upon his return from Taipei on Wednesday night, Ishii said: “From here on, our preparations will depend on evaluating the performances of each player, especially those in the core squad.

“These two games went according to plan — almost perfectly — but there are still details we must improve to be even more ready.

“Since only the group winners will qualify directly for the Asian Cup finals, we must give our very best to be one of those nations.

“Scoring more goals in the second meeting was possible because we faced the same opponent, which made analysis easier.

“Taiwan wanted to beat us, so they opened up more, leaving space behind their defensive line. That allowed us to score more. Their pressing higher up the pitch, combined with our teamwork and understanding, helped us create many goals.”

Meanwhile, Santiphap Channgom said: “Personally, I’m very happy to have contributed to the team, and even happier that we secured three points.

“I’m glad I could help with the goals, but what matters most is that the team got the win — that’s more important than individual performance.

“There’s pressure in every match. Right now, we’re second in the group, level on points with Turkmenistan. Personally, I feel the pressure, but I know we must stay focused on the games ahead.”

Match with Lions

The Football Association of Thailand has confirmed the national team will play a friendly against Singapore during the Fifa Day next month before their Asian Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka.

The match will take place at Thammasat Stadium on Nov 13.

Singapore are currently ranked 158th in the Fifa world rankings.

The War Elephants will face Sri Lanka in Colombo five days later.

Bangkok police arrested six foreign men, a Thai woman and a Myanmar woman at a barber shop on Nana Road (Sukhumvit Soi 3) where they said drugs were available.

Police said that while walking on Nana Road at 11pm on Wednesday, plainclothes officers were greeted by two foreign men who offered them drugs.

The foreigners then brought the undercover policemen to a barber shop on the top floor of a five-storey building on Nana Road. They were taken to a secret room where the suspects showed them pills priced at 2,000 baht each.

The suspects included six men aged between 21 and 41: two Pakistanis, and one each from Egypt, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Thai woman was 50 and the other Myanmar woman was 40.

Police found four sachets of methamphetamine weighing 3.3 grammes in total; two sachets of cocaine weighing 1.7g, two speed pills, four ecstasy pills, seven packs of magic mushrooms, 23 hookahs, 55 boxes of snuff, 125 packs of smuggled cigarettes, three bank passbooks and 125,000 baht in cash.

Three suspects were charged with trafficking drugs. The Pakistani was found to be working illegally as a barber. Others were charged with illegal entry, overstaying or having banned products.

Japan’s Aso Kumamoto Airport has begun a five-month campaign to attract tourists to the southwestern prefecture by rebranding itself on Wednesday as Aso Kumamon Airport named after the popular black bear character and mascot.

Images of the character will be painted on the floor of the entrances and stairs among other locations in the airport until March 15 next year, the airport said.

The project, launched with the Kumamoto prefectural government and other partners, also provides an area for visitors to take photographs alongside an image of the bear donning a pilot’s uniform.

The popular Kumamon was created in 2010 to promote Kumamoto ahead of the launch of the Kyushu shinkansen bullet train service the following year.

The Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Foundation is stepping up its efforts to restore seagrass beds across the Andaman Sea, following reports of a drastic decline in dugong populations caused by food shortages and deteriorating marine ecosystems.

Kongkiat Kittiwatthanawong, a member of the foundation’s academic promotion subcommittee, said the dugong population, surveyed this year using drones, had dropped sharply from 248 two years ago to just 114.

The largest remaining dugong populations were recorded in Trang and coastal areas along the Andaman Sea. Mr Kongkiat said the steep decline is primarily due to the critical loss of seagrass — the dugong’s main food source — resulting from the effects of climate change.

He said the decline began early last year, when a “sea drought” in the Andaman Sea destroyed at least 20,000 rai of seagrass beds. “The decline in food resources has forced dugongs to migrate in search of food, leading to more frequent sightings and population records this year,” he said.

Fishing gear, such as gill nets and fish traps, has also contributed to the drop in numbers. Mr Kongkiat said many dugongs are injured or killed after becoming entangled in ropes connecting traps and bobbers, which can cause them to drown, as dugongs are mammals that rely on lung-based respiration.

“With these findings, the foundation’s mission to rescue the dugong population will focus heavily on restoring seagrass beds,” Mr Kongkiat said.

The restoration project is being carried out in collaboration with the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. Seedling cultivation takes place on a four-rai plot in Ban Bang Phat, Bang Toey subdistrict, Muang district of Phangnga.

The mission aims to double the area of seagrass beds within one to two years, with the seedlings to be transplanted to underwater areas in Trang and Krabi to support the dugongs’ nutritional needs.

The foundation is also working with the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre in Phuket to rehabilitate malnourished, sick, or injured dugongs that have washed ashore.

Together, these efforts increased the seagrass bed area to 97,784 rai last year. “We expect the dugong population to stabilise within the next five years, with the hope that it will not decline further,” Mr Kongkiat said, adding that although the current population has already been reduced by half, its chances of survival are improving.

Thailand’s first standard for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) specifications is expected this month, with enforcement scheduled from Jan 1, 2026 to support a campaign reducing the carbon footprint of the aviation industry, says the Department of Energy Business.

A biofuel for aircraft, SAF produces up to 80% less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuel, according to media reports citing various forecasts.

The guideline used for SAF manufacturing in Thailand is based on international standards and covers neat SAF, a mixture of SAF and jet fuel, as well as Jet A-1, said Sarawut Kaewtathip, director-general of the department.

Neat SAF refers to pure SAF, while Jet A-1 is a kerosene-type aviation fuel used commercially by aircraft.

Thailand has never had a standard for Jet A-1, but because SAF will be blended with conventional fuel, a standard for Jet A-1 is needed for the calculation of reduced carbon dioxide emissions, said Mr Sarawut.

“The criteria for SAF manufacturing should be published in the Royal Gazette in the last week of October,” he said.

Thailand has two major SAF manufacturers: Bangchak Corporation produces neat SAF, while PTT Global Chemical (GC), the petrochemical arm of national oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc, makes an SAF-jet oil mixture.

GC’s products are expected to be distributed and marketed by PTT Oil and Retail Business, a subsidiary of PTT.

Both Bangchak and GC use used cooking oil, also known as UCO, as a raw material to produce SAF.

“It is expected UCO will become scarce in 2027 as demand for SAF continues to increase,” said Mr Sarawut.

This may cause manufacturers to produce SAF from plant fibre, he said.

According to SAF scientists, corn stover, sugar cane bagasse and wheat straw are rich in certain types of fibre that can be converted into alcohols such as ethanol or iso-butanol, which are then transformed into jet fuel using alcohol-to-jet technology.

Thailand has an abundance of raw materials needed for SAF production, supporting the government’s plan to make the country a regional hub of aviation, said Mr Sarawut.

The country, which produces ethanol from sugar cane and methyl ester from palm, has infrastructure such as logistics to support the production of new biofuels in the future, he said.

Authorities have arrested three Taiwanese nationals after discovering dozens of rare animals stuffed into nylon stockings and hidden on their bodies as they attempted to leave the country through Don Mueang Airport.

Police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), wildlife checkpoint and customs officials at Don Mueang airport apprehended three Taiwanese men involved in a transnational wildlife trafficking network while they were about to smuggle rare animals out of the country on Thursday, Pol Maj Gen Anek Taosupap, NED commander said on Friday.

The suspects were identified as Hsu Ching Chung, 53; Hong Zhi-Xian, 40; and Yang Tsung-Ju, 36. Officers seized 52 protected animals as evidence, including three spiny tortoises, one Indian star tortoise, one spider tortoise, 32 baby star tortoises, two adult star tortoises, four big-headed turtles, two mountain tortoises, and seven crocodile lizards.

Pol Maj Gen Anek said the operation followed a previous arrest on Oct 7, when officers at the Don Mueang wildlife checkpoint detained another Taiwanese man, Chiu Kuo-Shu, 54, attempting to smuggle two slow lorises, one squirrel, three otters, and two spiny tortoises out of the country.

Investigators found that the suspect used an inhumane smuggling method, sedating the animals until unconscious, stuffing them into nylon stockings, and wrapping them tightly with cloth before strapping them to his legs and body to evade detection.

Following Mr Chiu’s arrest, police expanded the investigation and uncovered a larger network planning to smuggle a major shipment of rare wildlife through the same airport using similar concealment tactics.

Surveillance was stepped up until officers spotted the three Taiwanese men acting suspiciously before departure. A body search revealed numerous sedated animals hidden around their legs.

During questioning, all three suspects confessed to being part of the wildlife smuggling ring. They admitted to being hired couriers, each receiving about 30,000 baht per trip, and said they had made two previous deliveries. The animals were reportedly purchased from a Thai man and were intended for resale in Taiwan to exotic pet enthusiasts.

The arresting team charged the suspects with illegal possession and attempted export of protected and controlled wildlife under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, mattempted export of undeclared goods under the Customs Act and violating the Animal Epidemics Act.

All were handed over to police investigators for legal action.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is requiring Thailand ensure non-discrimination in the bidding processes of its state-owned enterprises (SOEs), while Thailand has requested a five-year period to implement the necessary adjustments.

According to a Finance Ministry source who requested anonymity, in negotiations for Thailand’s OECD membership, one of the chapters requiring discussion and agreement between Thailand and the organisation concerns SOEs.

The OECD frowns upon discriminatory practices in the procurement processes of SOEs, such as setting bidding conditions that favour subsidiaries of those SOEs. Instead, bidding should be open and fair to all participants, whether Thai or foreign.

The source said negotiations on this chapter are ongoing. Thailand requested around five years for SOEs to adjust, as some have established subsidiaries specifically to handle the parent SOE’s projects.

In addition, the OECD wants Thailand to amend certain laws concerning specialised financial institutions owned by the state, which currently stipulate their services are provided only to Thai nationals. The OECD sees this as an unequal practice.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said recently the government plans to pursue OECD membership, which requires adherence to standards, good governance and the rule of law, through three main agendas:

1. Creating a rule of law roadmap to prepare Thailand for OECD membership by setting plans to upgrade legal standards and the justice system.

2. Unlocking corruption and reforming laws that hinder business operations, while preventing legal loopholes or opaque mechanisms that could give rise to grey businesses, ensuring that legitimate businesses can compete fairly and receive genuine support.

3. Promoting transparency and public participation by enhancing open government practices, using digital technology to disclose government information transparently and accessibly, and allowing citizens to monitor, scrutinise and provide systematic feedback on government work, with institutions in place to listen to such input.

Mr Anutin said the goal is “creating an ecosystem of transparency” where all decisions and budgetary expenditures are subject to scrutiny, and policies are transparent and genuinely inclusive of public participation.

No Asean country has become an OECD member yet, with Indonesia in the membership application process, while Thailand submitted a letter of intent of its wish to join the OECD to the group’s secretary-general at the end of 2023.

The membership process is relatively long, with some countries taking 7-8 years from application to approval by a council of the 38 OECD member states.

For Thailand, the National Economic and Social Development Council serves as the secretariat for the OECD membership task force, and plans to complete the process in just five years.

However, achieving this would require a collective effort from both public officials and the private sector to elevate various national standards to align with the OECD’s global standards.

Officials are planning to allocate 9 billion baht from the Energy Conservation and Promotion Fund to support the state’s “Quick Big Win” initiative.

A key policy of the Anutin Charnvirakul government, Quick Big Win promotes swift, impactful and broadly beneficial projects across ministries as the administration pledged to work for four months, then dissolve the House for a new general election next year.

“The Energy Ministry’s Quick Big Win focuses on projects that can help people earn revenue and reduce expenses in the energy sector,” said Rathachat Siripanich, manager of the Energy Conservation and Promotion Fund Office.

The budget of 9 billion baht will be forwarded to the fund committee for final approval of allocation in fiscal 2026, which runs from Oct 1 to Sept 30, 2026, he said.

“We want to help the government stimulate the economy and ensure Thailand can achieve its net-zero target in 2050,” said Mr Rathachat.

In fiscal 2025, the office set a budget of 2.75 billion baht, but received project proposals from civic and state sectors totalling 13.4 billion baht.

The committee’s criteria to grant money is based on a policy to promote energy development in remote areas, especially residential areas without electricity.