Track Thailand's economy in English — business, trade, finance and market news, covered by Thai PBS World, Thailand's public broadcasting service.
Two leading business executives have shared their views about the challenges and the unpredictability of doing business in the future, ranging from depleting natural resources and digital disruption to emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, climate change, geopolitics and human rights awareness. Pichai Chunhavajira, an advisor to the prime minister and CEO of Bangchak Corporation,
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he has invited Japan’s leading companies to join in the development of Thailand’s digital economy and the auto industry. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday also agreed with Srettha to consider launching a dialogue on the next-generation auto industry as part of their efforts to address energy and climate
Four members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand’s broadcast and telecom regulator, have proposed that the commission consider the service charges and quality of True Corporation after the successful merger of Total Access Communications Company (DTAC) and True Corporation (TRUE) in March this year. The commissioners say that they have received complaints
The Ministry of Commerce has aimed high, with an ambitious plan to promote and market eleven “soft power” sectors, which are expected to create 20 million jobs for Thais and about 4 trillion baht in annual income, claimed Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai at a soft power forum today. The 11 sectors are tourism, festivals, sports,
The government recently sent a letter to the Council of State, its legal advisor, seeking its opinion on the proposed 500-billion-baht borrowing plan to fund the digital wallet scheme. The current economic debate boils down to one question: Is the economy facing a crisis that needs a heavy-handed intervention from the government? Current indicators point
The government is now focusing on tackling the country’s formal debt problem, totalling about 16 trillion baht or 90% of GDP. This form of indebtedness is affecting about five million people and about 100,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. Speaking during a press conference at Government House today, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the debtors will
The Cabinet agreed today to exempt Japanese businessmen making business trips to Thailand, of no longer than 30 days, from requiring a visa. Deputy government spokesman Kharom Phonpornklang said that this visa exemption will come into force on January 1 and last until December 31, 2026. He said that the measure is intended to facilitate
Sarath Ratanavadi, CEO of Gulf Energy, Thailand’s third largest energy producer, is Thailand’s richest man for the fifth year in a row, with a net worth of 190.8 billion baht, mostly in shareholdings in the Stock Exchange of Thailand listed companies, according to the Money and Banking magazine’s December edition. His net worth, by September
A pub in Bangkok’s Ram Inthra area was ordered closed for five years as an initial penalty after it was found to have been operating with an expired license for the last three years, and more than 120 of its patrons failed drug screening late Saturday night. A police source said that the raid on
The prime minister is not satisfied with the Wage Committee’s Friday decision on the new minimum wages in Thailand, saying that they are too low and promising a review. Speaking to the media at the Pheu Thai party’s coordination centre in Kanchanaburi province yesterday, Srettha Thavisin said that the minimum wage increases, from Bt2-16, are
The country’s economic growth in 2024 is forecast to be 2.8-3.3%, driven by the government’s “digital wallet” scheme, which may contribute 1-1.5% to growth, according to the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB). As chair of the JSCCIB, Sanan Angubolkul, president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, warned, however, that the Thai
Thai consumers have been rocked by news that billions of baht in illegal pork has been smuggled into the country – and likely onto their dinner plates. Thousands of shipping containers packed with smuggled pork have been discovered in warehouses and docks across the country in recent years. Authorities say the industrial-scale smuggling racket is
