Economy and commerce

The World Bank is downgrading Thailand’s growth projections to 3.8% from 3.9% for 2019. This compares to last year’s 4.1% GDP. The Bank says that export growth has shrunk to 5.7% from last year’s 5.9%.The World Bank’s senior economist for Thailand, Mr. Kiatpong Ariyapratya, says ...

Thailand suffers calamities at both ends of the annual weather spectrum – both drought and flood. But as the demands on agriculture grow, with a growing population and the rise of tourists and development, the effects of these two extremes are becoming more apparent.Keep reading ...

Governments across Southeast Asia are pushing ahead with efforts to create cashless economies, with less developed countries such as Vietnam and Thailand leapfrogging richer ones like Singapore and Malaysia in electronic payments.Keep reading ...

Credit inquiries at the National Credit Bureau (NCB) are expected to hit another record high this year amid mounting anxiety over swelling household debt. The number of credit inquiries for existing borrowers is estimated to reach 60 million this year after 12.6 million were made ...

A spreading drought has emerged as a new risk for Thailand’s cooling economy in addition to domestic political tension and slower exports.The country’s hot and dry season is more acute than expected amid a possible El-Nino weather event, leaving just over a quarter of top ...

The National Credit Bureau (NCB) has voiced concerns about the asset quality of loans extended by savings cooperatives, particularly for lengthy loans, and about the high debt-service ratio (DSR) of borrowers.Keep reading ...

Customs cooperation and robust financial infrastructure remain the top challenges for Asean in its bid to deepen economic integration and redistribute economic wellbeing. Asean finance ministers and central bank governors concluded a two-day meeting in Chiang Rai on Friday. One of the major goals for ...

The first quarter of 2019 is ending with modestly bullish performances led by Chinese equities (up 5.53%), with slower growth in developed markets including the US (1.79%) and EU (1.69%). The main factor supporting risky assets in recent months has been improving prospects for US-China ...

The global economic slowdown, the prolonged US-China trade war, lack of clarity on Britain’s exit from the EU and trade sanctions from other countries have led to Thai exports failing to achieve their target in the first quarter of the year, the Thai National Shippers’ ...

Some 700 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) signed up for the single financial account scheme as of yesterday to obtain the exemption from penalties for increased tax liability, says the Revenue Department.Keep reading ...