Economy and industry
Low levels in the Mekong River impacting cargo ships near Chiang Rai
A reduction in water releases from Chinese dams and local drought conditions have resulted in the water level of the Mekong River in Chiang Rai dropping, and impeding ship transport.Water levels in the Mekong River at Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai since February have ...
OSMEP expects Thailand’s SMEs to grow 5.0%-5.5% in 2018
The Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP) is optimistic that the country’s small and medium-sized businesses will all register a considerable growth rate this year. Suwanchai Lohawatanakul, Director General of the OSMEP, said on Thursday that the Thai SME’s GDP is expected to grow between 5.0 ...
Report sees progress in fishing industry labour conditions
Thailand’s fishing and seafood industry has made some progress in regard to labour conditions, according to a report funded by the European Union (EU). Released yesterday, the report revealed that there had been fewer instances of physical violence and a higher percentage of workers with ...
Women must be central to Mekong dam decisions
Today, on International Women’s Day, a recent trip to the Mekong Basin serves as a reminder that women’s voices must be central to decision-making on hydropower, and in broader energy planning for Thailand and the region.The Nam Ou River, a longest tributary of the Mekong ...
The Digital Rise of Sustainable Tourism in Thailand
Thailand is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. With 25 million visitors per annum, the country relies heavily on tourism industry. In 2013, the tourism industry contributed 9 percent of the country’s annual GDP. This is not surprising as Thailand is one ...
Chiang Rai officially opens first tourist port in Thailand’s North
Thailand’s first tourist port in the northern region has been opened in Chiang Rai Province. Deputy provincial governor of Chiang Rai, Passakorn Boonyalak chaired the official opening of the North’s first tourist port, known as the First Chiang Saen Port, which was developed in accordance ...
The need for speed in adopting 5G
If ‘Thailand 4.0’ is to be taken seriously, the country cannot be left behind in upgrading its support technology. The government needs to speed up the auction of critical radio frequencies for the private sector to develop fifth-generation (5G) mobile services if the country’s digital ...
Migrant crackdowns hit ASEAN's labor flow
Tighter restrictions on foreign labor in Malaysia and Thailand have pushed out millions of migrant workers, driving up wages and threatening a growth model reliant on freedom of movement and cheap labor. Malaysia’s Top Glove, the world’s largest manufacturer of rubber gloves, faces a very ...
Prachuap again seeking permanent border crossing
Prachuap Khiri Khan will again propose the upgrading of Singkhon border pass to a permanent checkpoint at next week’s mobile cabinet meeting, to promote trade with Myanmar. Provincial governor Pallop Sinhaseni said on Friday the cabinet was due to visit Phetchaburi for meetings with central ...
Thailand again 'thinking' about joining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Thailand is considering applying to join the 11-nation trade deal that was initiated by ex-president Obama but abandoned by President Donald Trump on his first day in office. Negotiations over the deal were concluded in January by the countries — Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, ...
