Economy and industry
NESDC slashes forecast
The government’s planning unit on Monday downgraded the economic outlook for the whole year to a 7.3%-7.8% contraction from an earlier forecast of 5%-6%, after it reported the economy contracted the most in 22 years in the second quarter.The National Economic and Social Development Council ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Cross-border trade drops by over 9% in first half
Thailand’s cross-border trade fell by 9.18% year-on-year in the first half, attributed to lockdown measures and the slowing economies of neighbouring countries.The Foreign Trade Department reported overall cross-border trade, including transit trade, totalled 627 billion baht for January to June, with Malaysia the biggest partner ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Depa tries to provide local startups with digital edge
The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) is stepping up efforts to work with the Commerce Ministry and other related agencies to strengthen local startups and boost demand for their services as a way to break up foreign digital platforms’ hold on the market.Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president ...
Suchit Leesa-Nguansuk
Govt creates over 90,000 jobs to deal with unemployment caused by pandemic
The Department of Employment has created over 90,000 jobs to boost the economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak.Minister of Labour Suchart Chomklin said that he had ordered the department to prepare vacant positions both at home and overseas for those who are unemployed ...
The Nation Reporter
Trade department to push for RCEP signing in October
The Department of Trade Negotiations will urge the Cabinet in October to consider signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact, the department’s director general Auramon Supthaweethum said.She added that the vetting of all 20 chapters of the accord had been completed and that it ...
The Nation Reporter
Confidence down as political tension flares
Stock investors’ confidence for the three months to October remains in neutral territory as concerns over heightening domestic political tension and the economic slowdown drag down optimism.The investor confidence index (ICI) fell 16% to 85.3 from June’s 101.2, according to the monthly survey by the ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
No plans to open Thai skies yet: Aviation authority
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has yet to consider allowing international commercial flights to enter Thailand but was monitoring the improving Covid-19 situation in many countries, said director-general Chula Sukmanop.It will need to consult with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) before ...
The Nation Reporter
Poll suggests need for better strategy
Thailand is being urged to fine-tune its development strategy and rejig incentives to focus on promoting the nation as a production hub for health products like rubber gloves, supplements and medical devices in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.Aat Pisanwanich, director of the Center for ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Chinese dams and the Mekong drought
The latest reports from the Lower Mekong Basin are cause for growing concern that another period of drought will succeed that of 2019, affecting Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Expected rainfall from late May through June and July has not arrived, and the level of ...
Bank of Thailand leaves policy rate unchanged at record low
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low for a second straight meeting on Wednesday, as widely expected, on signs of improvement in the economy after the easing of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak.The BoT’s Monetary Policy ...
