Businesses affected by rally seeking loan packages

BANGKOK, 1 June 2010 (NNT) – Branches of the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank (SME Bank) are swarmed with entrepreneurs seeking financial aid after they have been affected by the recent city turmoil.

The SME Bank office at Siam Paragon Shopping Complex was yesterday crowded with riot-affected business operators who went to sign up for special loan package.

A clothes vendor from Pratunam area told reporter that the sales had not recovered although the shop had been reopened for a week. The sale revenue per day dropped from 50,000-60,000 THB to less than 10,000 THB while the same amount of expenses remained. However, she felt grateful for the aid the government was providing and expected the situation to improve soon.

SME Bank’s executive, Mr Asanee Hongsawasdi, said the bank had not set the closing date for the registration but the project was originally scheduled to end at the end of this year. The bank has closed the registration counters at some of the branches, leaving only those at Siam Paragon, Amarin Plaza, and the headquarters open.