Economy and industry
Thai developer bets on digitization and China's 'Belt and Road'
Thailand’s largest industrial estate developer is restructuring its investments to align with the country’s rapidly changing business landscape amid the coronavirus pandemic.Amata has decided to revise its business plan to invest 5 billion baht ($160 million) over five years to 2023 in Thailand and Vietnam, ...
Testing the stagflation waters
Thailand’s economy has been mired in a contraction for five consecutive quarters, starting with a 1.8% dip in the first quarter of 2020 followed by an alarming 12.2% nosedive in the second quarter.The contraction was less severe at only 6.4% in the third quarter, shrinking ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Govt says tourism industry may not recover until 2026
It could take another five years before tourism revives fully in Thailand — an ominous sign for one of the most tourism-dependent economies in the world.The sector, which contributed about one-fifth of the economy before the pandemic, isn’t expected to return to normal until 2026, ...
Prospects for biodiesel upbeat in the short term: Krungsri report
Over the next three years, the biodiesel industry will enjoy improved business conditions thanks to an average annual increase of 3-4 per cent in domestic demand, which will then bring consumption to 5.3-5.7 million litres per day, according Krungsri Researches outlook.The study said there would ...
The Nation Reporter
April export gain likely more than 10%
Thai exports are maintaining healthy growth momentum and likely increased by more than 10% in April, says Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.Mr Jurin revealed on Friday the country’s exports have passed the low point, with outbound shipments increasing by more than 10% in April from US$18.9 ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Local startup deals down, funding surges
The number of startup funding deals plunged to 30 in 2020, down from 41 the year before, due to the pandemic as investment focused more on companies in the growth stage, according to tech media Techsauce.However, the total investment in local startups surged to US$364 ...
Suchit Leesa-Nguansuk
Third-wave dampens TAT’s bid to boost domestic tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) believes it will not be able to meet its 2021 target because few people are travelling due to the third wave of Covid-19.TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the organization expects 90 million locals to take trips this year, slightly ...
The Nation Reporter
Financial system increasingly vulnerable
The Thai financial system has become more vulnerable due to negative shocks from the recent Covid-19 outbreak, says the Bank of Thailand (BoT).The financial situation of Thai households has become more fragile as reflected in the elevated debt-to-income ratio which is higher compared to other ...
Somruedi Banchongduang
Thailand-Cambodia highway 70% complete
A new highway connecting Thailand and Cambodia is 70% complete, according to the Department of Highways.The four-lane road will be named Highway 3646 and connect Ban Nong Ian in the Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province to the Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge in Stung Bot community ...
The Nation Reporter
GSB suspends relief-loan applications after huge demand crashes system
The state-owned lender Government Savings Bank (GSB) temporarily stopped accepting applications for its Covid-19-relief loans on Thursday as more than 100,000 requests are pending in the system, amid online backlash.“We expect to resume taking loan applications again early next week,” said GSB director Withai Rattanakorn ...
