Economy and commerce

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) announced on Wednesday that it had maintained its estimation of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 at 0.7 per cent expansion, but increased its forecast of 2022 GDP to 3.9 per cent from its August estimation of 3.7 per cent.“The ...

The government has planned to introduce an estimated 45.4 billion baht in stimulus to help smaller businesses retain jobs, a planning agency said on Thursday, as the country deals with a prolonged coronavirus outbreak.The government will pay firms a total of 9,000 baht for each ...

Headline inflation in August contracted 0.02% year-on-year, the first drop in five months, after the decline of fresh food prices and the government’s launch of stimulus measures to ease the cost of living during the pandemic, says Wuttipong Jittungsakul, deputy spokesperson of the Fiscal Policy ...

The Bank of Thailand believes the economy bottomed out in the third quarter and should gradually pick up from the fourth quarter thanks to progress in the vaccination rollout and earlier than expected relaxation of the government’s containment measures.Lockdown measures to contain the Delta variant ...

The Bank of Thailand held its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as the country’s Covid-19 outbreak eases, allowing the government to loosen movement restrictions to boost local demand and tourism.The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to hold the one-day repurchase rate at ...

Thailand has agreed to open a new border crossing with Cambodia to boost trade, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Wednesday.The crossing at the newly constructed Nong Ian-Stung Bot-Ban Friendship Bridge in Sa Kaeo province will be opened early as Thailand has yet to complete ...

In a bid to encourage investment in electric vehicles (EV), the Industry Ministry is joining hands with Siam Cement Group (SCG) to boost the use of EVs in the industrial sector.The ministry is also in the process of inviting other large companies like PTT and ...

The State Fiscal Policy Committee on Monday approved raising Thailand’s public debt ceiling from 60 per cent to 70 per cent of GDP.The new limit would be proposed at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting for approval, said Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.The committee, which is chaired by Prime ...

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has reported that the surge of COVID-19 cases, along with tough measures to curb the spread, has resulted in a drop in the consumer confidence index in August to the lowest figure in 20 years. Amid ...

Thailand’s overall economy is at risk of contraction in the third quarter due to restrictions on economic activities to curb Covid-19 from spreading further, Krungsri Research revealed on Wednesday.In its monthly economic report, Krungsri Research said the private sector’s consumption index in July contracted -5.3 ...