The Thai government said that it was speeding up a compensation program for around 2,400 small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected by last month's devastating Indian Ocean tsunami.
Officials said at least 60 million baht would be spent on the scheme. Senior Interior Ministry official Charnchai Suthornmat said the Department of Local Administration Promotion had surveyed the damage inflicted by the tsunami on a range of small businesses in the six affected Andaman coast provinces.
Mr. Charnchai, who is also a deputy head of the relief centre for tsunami victims, said the survey found small businesses in Phuket were hardest hit, followed by Phang-Nga, Krabi and Ranong. He said small business operators in Trang and Ranong did not require help, as they were relatively unaffected.
