News
Thailand retains ranking in Corruption Perception Index
The 2015 Corruption Perception Index for Thailand as reported by Transparency International ranked Thailand at 76th, at the same as the previous year with a score of 38 out of 100, according to the annual report released on 27 January. Keep reading ...
Villagers demand government settle Phuket land row
A sea gypsy community in tambon Rawai of Phuket’s Muang district on 27 January demanded the government fast-track multiple legal disputes over land plots between them and the private sector after their access to the sea was blocked. The move came after more than 100 men blocked a ...
Lower rice exports anticipated
The Thai Rice Exporters Association expects a decrease in the volume of rice exports this year. Keep reading ...
Thai Government approves B52.82bn budget to join AIIB
The Thai cabinet approved a budget of 52.82 billion baht on 26 January to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank seen as a rival to the US-led World Bank, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. Keep reading ...
Mekong diversion under way in Thailand
The Thai government’s planned diversion of billions of cubic metres of water from the Mekong River, described last week by a Thai Ministry of Water Resources representative as being as far as two years away, has already begun. The pumping, which is pulling water from the ...
Tariffs on 1,100 items may go
Thailand’s Finance Ministry is seeking cabinet approval to waive import tariffs on more than 1,000 items, says Customs Department director-general Kulit Sombatsiri. If approved, 56 categories of imported goods and a total of 1,100 items will be allowed into the country without tariff, Mr Kulit said. Keep reading ...
Board of Investment to propose privileges for smart farmer scheme
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) is set to propose promotional packages to support “smart farmer” projects at its next board meeting. Secretary-general Hiranya Sujinai said packages should combine both the BoI’s investment privileges and other support such as finance, technical assistance and market access development. Keep reading ...
ADB keen to support megaprojects
The Thai government’s megaproject investment is likely to use domestic lending sources in the initial phase with foreign lenders joining in the later stage, says the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Based on discussions with the Finance Ministry, Yasushi Negishi, the country director for the ADB’s Thailand ...
Mekong pumps to ease Isan drought
Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department has begun pumping water from the Mekong River and redirecting it to drought-afflicted regions of the Northeast. The RID has shied away from using the term “diverted”, instead saying only that it is “using” the water as it looks to bypass consultation ...
Chinese cash in on Thai solar power
Chinese solar companies are looking for opportunities in Thailand as an alternative growth destination to China, where the renewable power market has reached saturation point, according to BMI Research. Thailand is emerging as an attractive destination for renewable energy investment as the government looks to reduce the country’s reliance ...
