Thailand planning land and rail passageway, bypassing congested Strait of Malacca Thailand hopes to shorten shipping time by bypassing the busy Strait of Malacca with a 100 kilometre highway and railway passageway. Discussions are underway to construct 2 deep seaports on both sides of the country’s southern coast, which would be linked via rail and…
Thai government to postpone tax increase on cheap cigarettes The Thai government is expected to delay a planned tax increase on cheap cigarettes, as well as agreeing a moratorium on excise duties for entertainment and sporting venues, provided they don’t lay off any staff. Cigarettes costing less than 60 baht a pack were expected to…
Thailand passes record Bt1.9-trillion stimulus package The Thai Parliament approved three key emergency decrees providing Bt1.9-trillion aid package to businesses and people hit by the Covid-19 fallout Thailand’s parliament approved a 1.9 trillion baht (US$59.7 billion) stimulus package, the kingdom’s biggest-ever cash injection, as Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy is expected to contract by 6 to…
Chamber of Commerce urges businesses to reopen under New Normal BANGKOK(NNT) – The Thai Chamber of Commerce estimates that a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic will cause 10 million Thais to lose their jobs. Meanwhile businesses must adjust themselves to the New Normal, as the health crisis is expected to last for at least a year. The…
Thailand slips into recession AS Q1 GDP shrinks by 1.8 pct By Linda Khoo BANGKOK, May 18 — Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shrank by 1.8 per cent in the first quarter from a year ago as the COVID-19 pandemic hit tourism sectors and reduced business activities. It was the deepest contraction since the fourth quarter of…
JSCCIB expects Thai economy to contract by 3-5% this year BANGKOK(NNT) – Due to the impacts of COVID -19, the meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) expects the Thai economy to contract 3-5 percent in 2020, which is less than the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s prediction of between 6…
Loophole closed – more unemployed to receive payments from Thai government The loophole for employees whose businesses were not ordered to close, but are still affected by Covid 19 pandemic, has finally been addressed. The Thai Ministry of Labor secretary Sutthi Sukosol says that compensation will be similar to what employees whose businesses were ordered…
Consumer groups warn of risks in buying a new Chevrolet General Motors’ decision to pull production of its Chevrolet line out of Thailand has prompted consumer advocacy groups to remind prospective buyers of risks. The Foundation for Consumers and the Office of the Independent Committee for Consumer Protection said yesterday that buyers “should be wary of uncertainty…
Thailand may lift ban on foreign investors for some innovation sectors Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is considering whether to remove certain innovation-related businesses from the list of those open only to Thai citizens. The idea is being floated as a way of increasing foreign investment in Thailand, making the country a more attractive option for overseas…
Retail in the age of social media E-commerce is becoming easier and faster, making it increasingly popular. Recently, Instagram introduced a shopping feature that allows users to purchase products within the app. Social media is transforming retail and expanding the e-commerce world. It goes without saying that the presence of social media in any retail…