Economy and commerce
COVID-19 causes about one trillion baht in damage to Thai economy
The overall damage Thailand’s national economy, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently estimated at about one trillion baht, while business confidence for the first quarter of this year has dropped to 47.2, which is the lowest in almost two years, according to the forecast ...
Govt sees GDP, investment boost if joins CPTPP trade pact
Thailand could expect a boost to its economic growth, investment and exports to help offset the negative impact of the new coronavirus pandemic if it participates in an Asia-Pacific trade agreement, the commerce ministry said on Monday.The country has before said it aimed to seek ...
Commerce Ministry reduces prices of 3,025 items
The Ministry of Commerce has continuously reduced commodity prices, to help reduce Thai citizens’ cost of living during the COVID-19 outbreak.Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce said the commodity price reductions are a form of continuous aid from the ministry, in ...
Sirakij Pornbanggird
Ministry lines up PNs worth B70bn to buffer viral impact
The Finance Ministry will issue promissory notes (PN) worth 70 billion baht as the first batch of borrowing under the 1-trillion-baht royal decree to soften blow from the Covid-19 spread and the government’s containment measures.“Initially the Public Debt Management Office plans to offer 70 billion ...
Wichit Chantanusornsiri
Big stimulus borrowing could spur yield-curve control
Thailand’s 1 trillion baht borrowing programme for economic stimulus could spur central bank steps to keep a lid on bond yields.The government is set to start raising money as early as May, stoking questions about the outlook for bonds. A plausible scenario is that the ...
IMF: Thai GDP down 6.7%
The IMF downgraded the economic forecast for Thailand in 2020 to a contraction of 6.7%, making it the worst performer among its Asean peers if the multinational lender’s projection holds true. The revision is attributed to the economic toll of the coronavirus.Despite this, the IMF ...
Oranan Paweewun
Index at 33-month low point
Business sentiment plunged to a 33-month low in March as the sector worried that the escalating coronavirus outbreak would drag the country’s economy into a deeper contraction than Thailand saw during the 1997 financial crisis.The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) reported today ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Trillion-baht public-private investment projects planned
Thailand plans public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth 1.09 trillion baht during 2020-2027, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, as the government tries to revive the struggling economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.The 92-project plan includes 18 high-priority infrastructure projects worth 472 billion baht, Prapas Kong-Ied, head ...
Registration of businesses goes online to cut virus risk
The Department of Business Development is shifting business certification and juristic person registration services online to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection, according to its director-general, Vuttikrai Leewiraphan.“To comply with the government’s work-from-home policy and to promote social distancing, the Department of Business Development has ...
The Nation Reporter
Economy could lose over B1.3tr if virus crisis goes beyond Q2
The Thai economy is expected to lose 1.3 trillion baht, almost all of it in the tourist sector, due to the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, a banking association said on Tuesday.“But if the outbreak cannot be controlled within the current quarter, the impact ...