Economy and commerce
Low-income households struggle under rapidly mounting debt
Thai workers have shouldered ever-higher household debt in the past 10 years as their incomes have not been adequate to meet their expenses, according to a survey.Thai workers’ household debt averaged Bt91,064 per household in 2010 and jumped 6 per cent per year to Bt158,856 ...
The Nation Reporter
"Creating Thai Investors in Foreign Countries" training program
To promote Thai investment abroad, all sectors must help one another boost competitiveness. However, it is necessary to invest in what that country needs, which will help strengthen the Thai business sector.Keep watching ...
World Bank downgrades Thailand’s 2019 GDP growth to 3.8%
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 ...
Forecast drought will weaken the Thai economy
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 ...
Vietnam and Thailand lead drive to make Southeast Asia cashless
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 climbing as household debt swells
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 ...
Somruedi Banchongduang
Spreading Drought Adds to Risks for Thailand’s Cooling Economy
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 ...
Risky loans by cooperatives a concern
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 ...
Somruedi Banchongduang
Asean mulls paths to integration
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 ...
Wichit Chaitrong
A pause for politics
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 ...