Economy News

Thailand economy news, business updates, financial markets, and government policies—stay informed on economic developments shaping the nation. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand economic news.

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  • Chim-Shop-Chai stimulus scheme set for a second roll-out | Thaiger

    Chim-Shop-Chai stimulus scheme set for a second roll-out

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is hinting the government may launch a second phase of the “Chim-Shop-Chai” (Eat-Shop-Spend) scheme. He says he’s waiting for officials to complete an assessment of the first phase and its ability to boost the sluggish economy. Chim-Shop-Chai was a raging success. Up to one million Thais were able to register each 24 hours to apply for…

  • Round two of the “Eat, Shop, Spend” tourism stimulus | Thaiger

    Round two of the “Eat, Shop, Spend” tourism stimulus

    Round one of “Eat, Shop, Spend” (Chim, Shop, Chai) was a resounding success with the allotment for registrations completely subscribed on the days of registration. It was a 1,000 baht ‘gift’ to encourage Thais to travel and spend outside their home provinces. Now the government are rolling out the second round of the stimulus packages to keep the local tourism…

  • Thais clamour for the “Chim, Shop, Chai” 1000 baht give-away program | Thaiger

    Thais clamour for the “Chim, Shop, Chai” 1000 baht give-away program

    PHOTO: buriramguru.com The “Chim, Shop, Chai” (Eat, Shop, Spend) program has been a resounding success, and it’s still got a another five days or so to go. Thai citizens can apply for the 1000 baht ‘gift’ from the government and spend the money at selected shops anywhere outside their home province. The government only accepts one million applications each day so,…

  • PM says Thailand plans to be a high income country within 17 years | Thaiger

    PM says Thailand plans to be a high income country within 17 years

    PHOTO: AFP The PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has high ambitions for Thailand within the next 17 years, saying the government aims to see it become a high income country. The PM made the claim while attending a lunch meeting with the Asia Society for Executives and foreign media in New York. He says the government has spent the last five…

  • Chim-Shop-Chai – more than a million already register for the latest Thai stimulus package | Thaiger

    Chim-Shop-Chai – more than a million already register for the latest Thai stimulus package

    Interest in the government’s latest stimulus package has been massive with online portals being battered by people wanting to know more about how they can get their hands on the 1000 baht give-away from the Thai government. More than a million people have already registered to join the government’s Chim-Shop-Chai (Taste-Shop-Spend) program, where they will receive a 1000 baht to…

  • Finance Ministry launches 100 billion stimulus package to kickstart sagging economy | Thaiger

    Finance Ministry launches 100 billion stimulus package to kickstart sagging economy

    PHOTO: thailandshoppingdining.com The Government is kicking off a new stimulus package valued at 100 billion baht to “stimulate the grassroots economy”. Prasong Poontaneat, permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry reported that the government is preparing a brand-new stimulus package. “The Finance Ministry and related agencies will spend more than 100 billion baht on approximately 30 million low-income households nationwide.” The…

  • Thailand’s August exports fall further than expected | Thaiger

    Thailand’s August exports fall further than expected

    Some more lumpy economic news for Thialand as the focus is on the monthly customs clearances to provide a compass for the country’s economy. Customs-cleared exports dropped in August 4% compared to the same month a year earlier. Exports unexpectedly rose in July, according to the commerce ministry today. The decline in August has shown itself to be greater than…

  • Focus on quality over quantity, says leading Thai economist | Thaiger

    Focus on quality over quantity, says leading Thai economist

    PHOTO: Sbs.com.au One of Thailand’s leading economists says we’ve got it all wrong and the country needs to change the way it thinks about the economy. Pasuk Phongpaichit from Chulalongkorn University says Thailand should stop focusing on growth and consumption and prioritise quality of life instead. She was speaking at the Fukuoka Prize Symposium in Japan earlier this week. Pasuk…

  • What goes up must come down – the battle of the baht | Thaiger

    What goes up must come down – the battle of the baht

    Newton’s law looms over the Thai baht. Meanwhile, the Thai baht continues to be the best performing currency in Asia. The Thai currency is riding a 6-year high against the USD and, this year, has surged 8% against the US currency. But the strong baht is causing knock-on effects to the rest of the Thai economy, battering exports and stifling tourist…

  • Thailand’s gold and jewellery exports rise nearly 30% | Thaiger

    Thailand’s gold and jewellery exports rise nearly 30%

    The export value of gems and jewellery grew by 29.3% in the past seven months despite unfavourable trading terms with the rising baht. The Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand director, Duangkamol Jiambutr, puts the value of exports from January to July at US$9 billion or approx. 280 billion baht, a 29.3% increase year on year. Gold exports led the climb,…

  • Asian stock markets mostly rise on positive news | Thaiger

    Asian stock markets mostly rise on positive news

    “China announced it would resume trade talks with the US in Washington next month.” Most Asian equities and currencies rallied today, building on the previous day’s advance as investors were cheered by a number of positive developments on trade, Hong Kong and Europe. Markets were already on an upward trajectory after the leader of Hong Kong withdrew a controversial extradition…

  • Thai economic committee warns about stagnant growth in second half of 2019 | Thaiger

    Thai economic committee warns about stagnant growth in second half of 2019

    The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking says they’re concerned by threats to the performance of the Thai economy in the second half of this year. The office says the lack of stimulating factors and the project of an ever-stronger baht will stifle economic expansion and the economy will fail to reach targets. The JSCCIB President Preedee Daochai…