Plentiful policy on offer

Thailand is heading towards a consequential general election on Feb 8.

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In the weeks leading up to polling day, voters have been bombarded with policy proposals from across the political spectrum. Many are attractively packaged and, if fully realised, would seemingly transform the country overnight.A case in point emerged last week in a widely shared policy debate between Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, who is a leading economic figure of the Bhumjaithai Party, and Sirikanya Tansakun, a key economic strategist for the People's Party. Their exchange focused on a technical but politically loaded issue: access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the rice export market.

At the heart of the dispute are revised ministry regulations. The ministry has eased longstanding rules by exempting farmers and cooperatives from the 500-tonne stock requirement and lowering the threshold to 100 tonnes for small exporters, with the stated aim of reducing concentration and promoting freer trade.