World Bank: Untapped opportunity for Malaysia to reap environmental, economic benefits KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — A series of World Bank Group studies show that there are untapped opportunities for Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand to reap environmental and economic benefits with clear and complementary interventions from the private and public sectors. Country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines…
Thai Rates Seen on Hold, GDP Forecast Likely Cut: Decision Guide (Bloomberg) — Thailand’s central bank will likely keep its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday at an all-time low to save limited policy space while also cutting its growth forecast for the year. All 25 economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the Bank of Thailand…
Thailand’s EEC joins hands with Huawei Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) and Chinese tech giant Huawei signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that aims to produce a digital workforce to meet the kingdom’s emerging needs and developing its position as a digital regional hub. The digital talent collaboration in conjunction with Huawei Asean Academy…
Slow economic recovery will limit Thai banks’ performance: Fitch Ratings Thai banks’ operating environment remains challenging due to a slow economic recovery and continued downside risks from the fallout of the Covid-19 outbreak, Fitch Ratings said. It will be particularly demanding for vulnerable bank clients, especially small businesses.Still, the risk of a severely stressed macroeconomic…
Civil Aviation Authority to consider airlines’ requests to ease some Covid measures The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has singled out 8 Thai airlines it still has faith in and believes will stay afloat. The CAAT says that without the Covid-19 crisis, none of the carriers risked going bankrupt and the tough financial situation they…
Rise in Thai Shopping Online Accelerates Asia’s Shift to E-commerce BANGKOK (NNT) – The number of Thai households shopping online has shot up 58 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the region’s shift to e-commerce. The dramatic rise in households buying online signals a turning point for e-commerce in Asia. According to global…
Commerce Ministry Launches “Thailand Deliver with Safety” Campaign BANGKOK (NNT) – The Commerce Ministry has launched the “Thailand Deliver with Safety” campaign to boost confidence in Thai products overseas amid the Covid-19 crisis. The campaign aims to reassure buyers and importers that Thai agricultural produce, food products and halal food are Covid-safe due to high production…
Consumer groups sue Trade Competition Commission for approving CP-Tesco merger Thailand’s Trade Competition Commission has been served with a lawsuit courtesy of the Foundation for Consumers and 37 other consumer groups, as a result of a merger between the conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group and Lotus (formerly Tesco Lotus). “The Charoen Pokphand Group is a Thai…
Investment themes turn more towards cyclical plays March has started out with very good news. Vaccine distribution is now under way in Thailand, with more than 30,000 people vaccinated so far. This comes not a second too soon as the lockdown during the first two months of the year had dragged the economy back down.…
TOAT Targets Cannabis Businesses to Compensate Declining Tobacco Income BANGKOK (NNT) – The Tobacco Authority of Thailand (TOAT) expects lucrative businesses related to cannabis and hemp extracts will help compensate for deteriorating income from tobacco production. TOAT Governor Panuphol Rattanakanjanapatra said TOAT is drafting a ministerial regulation to give the organization an authority to grow and…