Track Thailand's economy in English — business, trade, finance and market news, covered by Thai PBS World, Thailand's public broadcasting service.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will extend the operating hours of Chatuchak weekend market, from 6pm to 7pm, to accommodate shoppers who prefer to visit the market in the evening, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said today. The market reopened yesterday in a subdued atmosphere, after almost two months of closure as part of the lockdown
The Chatuchak weekend market, popular with both Thai and foreign tourists, will reopen this weekend, but visitors will be required to observe physical distancing and wear face masks. Mrs. Walaya Wattanarat, deputy permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said this weekend the market will be open from 5am to 6pm, for shops selling
Home-sharing platform Airbnb said Tuesday it will slash one fourth of its workforce — some 1,900 people — as the coronavirus pandemic crushes the travel industry. The cuts are needed for the San Francisco-based company to survive until people start traveling anew, Airbnb co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky said in a blog post. “We
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned stores that they must observe the rules on maintaining strict physical distancing between their customers, or they may be closed down again. The Prime Minister appeared to be concerned over the scramble to buy liquor, after the ban was eased on Sunday. Meeting with the media, after the
Hundreds of people gathered at the Public Relations Department (PRD) this morning (Tuesday) to file petitions to receive the 5,000 baht/month cash subsidy, promised by the Thai government, after they did not receive the first payment in April. Some of the petitioners are reported to have kept a vigil in front of the PRD since
A second set of swabs, taken from 40 asymptomatic in-patients at a hospital in Thailand’s Yala province, have been sent to a laboratory in Songkhla for analysis. This comes after new infections in Yaha district jumped by about 30% after initial tests on 78 people showed 24 of have COVID-19, said Dr. Songkran Maichum, head
Thailand’s exports to US market are forecast to contract by as much as 9.2% this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and the GSP privilege removal for some Thai products, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC). A 9.2% contraction equates to a fall of about 28.5 billion dollars in
Thailand’s state-run Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) has agreed to grant a one-year debt moratorium to 3.3 million farmers, farmer’s groups, agricultural cooperatives and village funds from April. BAAC manager Mr. Apirom Sukprasert said today that this move will help cushion impacts, on farmers, their cooperatives and village funds, from COVID-19 and drought.
Thailand’s National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) today (Thursday) voted not to postpone the June 1st deadline for the ban two toxic weed killers, paraquat and chlorpyrifos. Twenty-four of the 28 members of the NHSC met today to discuss a proposal, from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, to delay the ban until the end of the
From this Sunday, six types of businesses and recreational activities will be allowed to reopen in Thailand, but on a limited scale, as the CCSA gradually eases COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin announced today that they defined the general principles for the relaxation of lockdown guidelines, to help all provincial governors decide
The overall damage Thailand’s national economy, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently estimated at about one trillion baht, while business confidence for the first quarter of this year has dropped to 47.2, which is the lowest in almost two years, according to the forecast by the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasts of the
Thailand’s chance of joining the trans-Pacific trade bloc is now very slim after strong opposition has prompted the withdrawal of a proposal to apply for membership. Given the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and expectations of change in the global trade environment, critics believe this is not the right time for the Kingdom to join any free
