News
UnionPay signs chip card standard license with Thailand
UnionPay International and Thai Bankers Association signed Chip Card Standard License Agreement in Bangkok on 18 August. According to the agreement, the chip card standard of UnionPay will be introduced to local banks as the standard of Thailand’s banking industry. Thailand has become the first overseas ...
Bank of Thailand: Slower growth a regional ill
The Bank of Thailand insists that despite shocks and changes experienced in the macroeconomic environment, the country’s fundamentals remain strong, as reflected in the country’s current account surplus, stable foreign exchange rate and low unemployment. Central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul on 17 August said speeding up infrastructure investment ...
City bomb horror in Bangkok
Central Bangkok descended into chaos on evening of 17 August when a bomb exploded at Ratchaprasong intersection, killing 20 people, including three foreigners, and injuring at least 125. The explosion occurred about 7pm near the Brahmin statue at the Erawan Shrine on the intersection packed with evening rush-hour ...
Importers hedging against baht slump
Local small and medium-sized importers are in a rush to hedge their currency exposure to protect against the rapid weakening of the baht, says TMB Bank. The number of SME customers hedging against foreign exchange risk has increased by 20-30% since the baht began depreciating after ...
Thai entrepreneurs urged to move fast in Myanmar
Thai entrepreneurs should tap Myanmar’s high growth potential, say business leaders. However, competition has grown intense as Myanmar welcomes other foreign investors, forcing some Thai businesses to seek local partners in order to make it easier to do business there. Keep reading ...
Thai baht at six-year low, tourism shares fall after bombing
Thailand’s baht currency slumped to a more than six-year low on 18 August and shares fell in Bangkok over concerns an unprecedented attack in the capital could hit the vital tourism sector. At least 21 people were killed and over 120 wounded when a bomb ripped through ...
Thailand’s economic growth slows, with yuan denting outlook
Thailand’s economic growth slowed in the second quarter as improving government spending and tourism failed to counter weak local demand and exports, with the outlook clouded by drought and the yuan’s devaluation. Gross domestic product gained 2.8 percent in the three months through June from a ...
5.9% pay hike forecast for Thailand
Salaries in Thailand are expected to go up by 5.9 per cent in 2015, according to global consulting firm Mercer in its recently released annual labour market research. Keep reading ...
Vietnamese plea to Thailand: Don't divert the Mekong
People in Vietnam hope Thailand will reconsider its plan to divert water from the Mekong, because it would seriously affect their ability to produce food. The Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s most important agricultural area. Each year, the area produces the most rice and fruit in the country. This region ...
Pruksa raises forecast for year's growth in Bangkok property sector
The property market in Greater Bangkok is expected to remain in good shape, with SET-listed Pruksa Real Estate Plc revising up its growth forecast to 15% growth this year from 10% projected in May. Keep reading ...
