Economy and commerce

The rapid weakening of the baht could cause problems for the real economic sector, says a senior official at the Bank of Thailand. The central bank is closely watching the baht’s movement, though no irregularity been detected so far, said Chantavarn Sucharitakul, the assistant governor overseeing financial ...

In a bid to rein in non-performing loans, several commercial banks are offering a cut of 15-20% for payment of overdue loans to encourage customers to clear their credit card and personal debt, according to a debt collection firm. Pracha Chaisuwan, managing director of Chet Collection ...

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has said resumed permission for importing three Australian fruits including oranges, tangerines and grapes is expected to be given on 1 August. Keep reading ...

Thaicom Plc’s mobile operating unit in Laos has seen its licence extended for another 25 years, six years before the expiry of the original contract. Thailand’s sole satellite service provider expects the extension granted to its joint venture company, Lao Telecom, to cement its leadership in the ...

At a time when little is going right for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, Thailand is being hit hard by weak global demand for its major agricultural exports. Among the people most affected are the country’s rubber producers, suffering depressed prices since January 2014. After surging to more ...

Recent data from the International Labour Organisation say that despite implementing a $128 minimum wage in January, the Kingdom’s garment and footwear sector has grown by over 10 per cent in the first quarter this year, although experts suggest a wait-and-see approach to determine its ...

Vietnam’s economic growth could reach 6-6.2 percent this year underpinned by further recovery in domestic demand, in turn reflecting robust private consumption and investment growth, according to a World Bank report.   The medium-term outlook for Vietnam is positive on balance in the context that growth in developing ...

Vietnam’s economic growth has continued to firm up in 2015 with gross domestic product forecast to expand 6.3 per cent in the first half of this year, according to the World Bank’s latest Taking Stock report. The bank’s semi-annual review of Vietnam’s economic performance said the ...

A government decision to ax a luxury development project and four others amid opposition from Buddhist monks has left developers wondering if their investments are safe in one of the world’s fastest-growing real-estate markets. Last month the government axed plans for the $300-million Dagon City luxury development. ...

Many did not expect the central province of Khanh Hoa to axe a giant property project early this month, only less than a year after its Indian developer received the investment license.    The province refused to give Dewan International Vietnam more time to find money, canceling the ...