Economy

PM and Macron discuss visa-free access for Thai nationals in the European Union’s Schengen zone

PM and Macron discuss visa-free access for Thai nationals in the European Union’s Schengen zone

March 12, 2024

Economy, Living, Politics, Thailand:

Prime Minister Settha Thavisin’s Paris tête-à-tête with French President Emmanuel Macron heralds a push for visa-free Schengen access for Thai passport holders. Amid trade and… Read More ›

Threat from contaminated fruit and vegetables from China part of a wider problem facing the kingdom

Threat from contaminated fruit and vegetables from China part of a wider problem facing the kingdom

March 11, 2024

Economy, Living, Thailand:

Contaminated Chinese imports threaten Thai markets. Shift from China to India ahead. The Thai retail and manufacturing sector is under pressure from tainted imports. Government… Read More ›

Economic agency boss raises concern about runaway online media content in Thailand and fake news

Economic agency boss raises concern about runaway online media content in Thailand and fake news

March 8, 2024

Economy, Living, Media, Thailand:

Thai Economic Council raises the question of social media regulation amidst a fake news surge. In particular, online influencers face scrutiny as concern grows over… Read More ›

British Airways announces its return to Bangkok in a new thrice-week service from Gatwick London to Bangkok

British Airways announces its return to Bangkok in a new thrice-week service from Gatwick London to Bangkok

March 6, 2024

Economy, Living, Thailand:

British Airways to resume Bangkok flights from late October. Gatwick to Suvarnabhumi Airport thrice weekly. A boost for Thai aviation hub plans. Flyers expect to… Read More ›

Thailand faces an uphill struggle to become the aviation hub it once was before the pandemic era

Thailand faces an uphill struggle to become the aviation hub it once was before the pandemic era

March 2, 2024

Economy, Living, Thailand:

Thailand’s Aviation Hub Dream. An ambitious plan for 150 million arrivals or is this pie in the sky? Certainly, PM Srettha’s bold vision faces critical… Read More ›

Bank of Thailand holding strong against quite a strident push by the PM for more populist economics as debt levels rise

Bank of Thailand holding strong against quite a strident push by the PM for more populist economics as debt levels rise

February 22, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Bank of Thailand holds firm against the PM’s relentless campaign and stinging criticism. Tension escalates as the government puts further pressure on for interest rate… Read More ›

By 2074, Thailand’s population will fall to 30 million people even based on the current birth rate which is still falling

By 2074, Thailand’s population will fall to 30 million people even based on the current birth rate which is still falling

February 19, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Thailand’s population is set to plummet. Crisis looms as birth rate drops. Senior minister calls for urgent action as the population is predicted to more… Read More ›

Banker calls for government to rein in Thailand’s persistently large black economy amid economic malaise

Banker calls for government to rein in Thailand’s persistently large black economy amid economic malaise

February 17, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Thai Bankers Association President, Phayong Sriwanich, calls for urgent measures to tackle Thailand’s vast informal economy, accounting for nearly half of GDP. Highlighting its detrimental… Read More ›

PM wakes up to threat of cheap Chinese goods dumped on Thailand driven by misguided economic policies

PM wakes up to threat of cheap Chinese goods dumped on Thailand driven by misguided economic policies

February 16, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Thai World, Thailand:

Thai PM raises the alarm over Chinese product onslaught: Trade deficit balloons, economic future growth and well being is at risk. The government is urged… Read More ›

Property market glut sees minister’s call for supports in the face of the central bank’s ongoing credit crunch

Property market glut sees minister’s call for supports in the face of the central bank’s ongoing credit crunch

February 9, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Finance Ministry urges support for homebuyers amid Bank of Thailand’s credit crunch. Deputy Minister Krisada calls for coordinated fiscal-monetary policy to tackle challenges. It comes… Read More ›

Thailand in crisis as population declined by over 500k over the last four years according to the latest data

Thailand in crisis as population declined by over 500k over the last four years according to the latest data

February 7, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Thailand in Crisis: Population plummets by 500k in 4 Years. Economic growth stagnates as the ageing crisis looms. Social Security fund faces bankruptcy. Urgent government… Read More ›

Prime Minister Srettha still doggedly pushing his less than popular and legally perilous Digital Wallet plan

Prime Minister Srettha still doggedly pushing his less than popular and legally perilous Digital Wallet plan

February 6, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

PM Srettha Thavisin presses on doggedly with his increasingly contentious Digital Wallet scheme. The plan faces public indifference, warnings of legal peril for ministers involved… Read More ›

Elephant pants should be a Thai success story. Instead, it is a story of economic policy failure as manufacturing slips 

Elephant pants should be a Thai success story. Instead, it is a story of economic policy failure as manufacturing slips 

February 4, 2024

Culture, Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Thailand’s economic struggles take centre stage as the global success of elephant pants reveals a harsh truth – over 70% are manufactured in China. The… Read More ›

Central Bank warns interest rates are a short-term tool. Lower borrowing rates can also have adverse consequences

Central Bank warns interest rates are a short-term tool. Lower borrowing rates can also have adverse consequences

February 2, 2024

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Bank of Thailand cautions against interest rate cuts, highlighting short-term gains with potential long-term pitfalls. Senior Director Sakkapop Panyanukul emphasises winners and losers in the… Read More ›

Government steps up campaign targeting the Bank of Thailand on interest rates citing an economic ‘crisis’

Government steps up campaign targeting the Bank of Thailand on interest rates citing an economic ‘crisis’

January 31, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Populist rhetoric rises as officials criticise the central bank’s monetary policy. The Government is pressuring the Bank of Thailand to cut rates, but its Governor… Read More ›

Positive January tourism data with the kingdom on target to welcome 3.17 million foreign visitors

Positive January tourism data with the kingdom on target to welcome 3.17 million foreign visitors

January 25, 2024

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Thailand:

Visa-free regime boosts Chinese interest and sentiment, while caution arises given last year’s pattern. Russian tourists with 90-day stays contribute to the robust influx, generating… Read More ›

Srettha plans a visa-free hub by asking the European Union for a mutual visa waiver similar to China

Srettha plans a visa-free hub by asking the European Union for a mutual visa waiver similar to China

January 25, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

Prime Minister Srettha envisions Thailand as a World aviation hub. On Wednesday, he spoke of a reciprocal visa exemption deal with the European Union. The… Read More ›

It’s not an economic crisis, it’s a quagmire of structural problems that cannot be fixed overnight 

It’s not an economic crisis, it’s a quagmire of structural problems that cannot be fixed overnight 

January 24, 2024

Economy, Living, Personal, Politics, Thai World, Thailand:

On Tuesday, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput rejected the term ‘crisis’ despite slower growth. However, the clash with PM Srettha deepened as, on Wednesday, Mr… Read More ›

Questions about the viability of Srettha’s land bridge arise despite Monday’s euphoric briefings in Ranong

Questions about the viability of Srettha’s land bridge arise despite Monday’s euphoric briefings in Ranong

January 23, 2024

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin returned from the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 energised by ambitious plans for Thailand’s future. In particular, he appears focused on… Read More ›

Central bank: the corporate bond market is sound but the economy needs long-term structural reform

Central bank: the corporate bond market is sound but the economy needs long-term structural reform

January 20, 2024

Economy, Foreigners, Living, More News from Thailand, Politics, Thailand:

Bank of Thailand: The corporate bond market is strong. However, the economy needs a long-term overhaul. Rollover risks of corporate bonds downplayed. With global factors… Read More ›