Economy and commerce
BOT worried as baht continues upward streak, vows ‘extra measures’
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is concerned about a swift baht appreciation in the past two weeks and promised to impose extra measures to address short-term inflows just as the currency rose again today (June 1).Deputy governor Mathee Supapongse said today that the baht has ...
The Nation Reporter
Thailand passes record stimulus package to combat COVID-19 impact
Thailand’s parliament approved on Sunday (May 31) a near-US$60 billion stimulus package, the kingdom’s biggest-ever cash injection, to revive an economy that has been hammered by the coronavirus.The 1.9 trillion baht (US$59.7 billion) package would be a much-needed boost for Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy, expected ...
Govt to consider joining Asia-Pacific trade pact in a month
The cabinet has agreed to set up a committee to consider whether Thailand should seek membership in an Asia-Pacific trade agreement after widespread opposition last month amid concerns joining the pact may harm the agriculture industry.The lower house panel will open for public opinions on ...
Thailand to drive domestic tourism as economy rides out drop in foreign visitors
Thailand plans to boost domestic tourism in the third quarter to help support the struggling economy as the coronavirus pandemic hits global travel and domestic consumption, the state planning agency said on Monday.The export- and tourism-driven economy may shrink 5% to 6% this year, the ...
Fast-Changing E-Commerce Trends In A Pandemic
Based on a 2019 study by Facebook and Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm, digital consumers in ASEAN will be spending three times as much in 2025.The joint study found that while consumers in Southeast Asia spent US$125 on average on online purchases ...
Household debt risks boiling over
The country’s household bad debt is expected to reach 1 trillion baht this year, putting the ratio to total loans outstanding into double digits as debt-servicing ability erodes amid coronavirus-induced income shocks, says the head of the National Credit Bureau (NCB).Non-performing loans (NPLs) are surging ...
Somruedi Banchongduang
2020 online trade set to hit B220bn
Thailand’s e-commerce, excluding business-to-business engagement, is expected to grow 35% to 220 billion baht in 2020, driven by the coronavirus outbreak, says Priceza, a price comparison shopping website.Meanwhile, the competition between social commerce and e-marketplaces is expected to intensify.“In the post-Covid-19 world, the online channel ...
Suchit Leesa-Nguansuk
Covid-19 casts two spells on Thai economy
The Thai economy contracted by 1.8 per cent in the first quarter from the same period last year or shrank by 2.2 per cent from the previous quarter after seasonal adjustment, the National Economic and Social Development Council has said.This recession was driven by the ...
BoI, state banks extend helping hand to firms hit hard by Covid-19
The Board of Investment (BoI) will join hands with two state-backed banks to help entrepreneurs affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, BoI secretary-general Duangjai Asawachintachit has said.“BoI will work with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand [SME D Bank] and Export-Import Bank of Thailand ...
The Nation Reporter
Thailand cuts key rate for third time as economic crisis worsens
The Bank of Thailand cut its benchmark interest rate for the third time this year to a record low as the economy is expected to shrink further amid the coronavirus pandemic.The central bank lowered the policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.5 per cent ...