Business News
Thailand business news, market trends, foreign investment, and economic updates—stay informed on stock market movements, entrepreneurship, and key developments shaping the economy. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for business news in Thailand.
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Foreign film productions bring 4 billion baht to Thailand
Thailand attracted 302 foreign film and content productions worth a combined 4.025 billion baht during the first half of 2026, already surpassing half of the total investment recorded throughout 2025. Deputy government spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesaengchan announced the figures today, July 10. She said several large productions are preparing to begin work in Thailand during the second half of the year,…
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Mystery woman claims 100 billion baht in shares of Thai blue chips that don’t exist
A mystery woman who filed reports claiming to own nearly 100 billion baht worth of shares in six of Thailand’s biggest listed companies has shaken confidence in the Thai capital market, prompting an urgent investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The name Supaporn Pimpong was unknown in Thai investment circles until July 2, when the SEC published an…
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Central Pattana and Mitsubishi Estate unveil CenTRal cENtrAL at Pathumwan intersection
Central Pattana Public Company Limited and Mitsubishi Estate have unveiled CenTRal cENtrAL, a next-generation mixed-use development at Pathumwan intersection, designed to strengthen Siam Square’s position as a Global Youth Culture Destination. The project has a total value of more than 11 billion baht and is being developed under the concept Young. Bold. Global. It will bring together retail, workplace, hospitality,…
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Vietnam and Philippines reach upper-middle-income status, leaving Thailand stuck in the middle-income trap
Two of Southeast Asia’s fastest-rising economies have just climbed into Thailand’s income league. On 1 July 2026, the World Bank upgraded Vietnam and the Philippines to “upper-middle-income” status, the same tier Thailand has occupied for years. The milestone is a moment of national pride in Hanoi and Manila. For Thailand, it is a reminder of an uncomfortable truth: its neighbours…
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Kao Thailand earns ‘Best Places to Work 2026’ certification from WorkVenture
Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has been certified as one of Thailand’s Best Places to Work 2026 by WorkVenture, recognising the company’s workplace culture, employee development, and commitment to long-term organisational growth. WorkVenture is an employer branding consultancy, and the organisation behind the annual Top 50 Companies in Thailand survey, which ranks employers considered most attractive among Thailand’s new generation…
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Nominee-run Chinese recycling plants leaked toxic waste across Thailand
Since China’s “National Sword” policy took effect in January 2018, banning imports of contaminated plastic and electronic waste, the recycling industry that was once concentrated inside China has scattered across the region. As a result, Thailand has absorbed a large share of it. For decades, China took in almost half the world’s recyclable waste. When it shut its doors, Thailand,…
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Thai government says Thailand recognised as leading business destination
Thai government reported yesterday, June 29, that Thailand has been ranked 27th globally and seventh in Asia in the Best Countries for Starting a Business released by the U.S. News & World Report Best Countries 2026. The announcement was made by Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office Lalida Persvivatana. The spokesperson said the ranking reflects the country’s openness to…
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Thailand is rolling out the red carpet for foreign business. It is still making the little guys crawl under it.
Thailand is finally tearing down the wall that kept foreign companies out, the most significant business reform in twenty-seven years. But read the fine print and a familiar pattern appears. The reform is built for the multinational with a legal department. The interior designer, the chef, the clinic owner, the small foreign operator who helped raise Thailand to the world-class…
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Phyathai-Paolo partners with Shop.BeDee to advance personalised healthcare in Thailand
Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group has announced a strategic partnership with Shop.BeDee, a leading digital healthcare platform, to enhance access to healthcare services and accelerate the shift toward personalised healthcare in Thailand. The collaboration reflects changing consumer behaviour, as more people are turning to digital channels to search for health information, compare services, and make healthcare decisions. Data from Phyathai-Paolo shows that…
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Thailand unveils 5,999 baht FIFA World Cup 2026 package
Jasmine International, or JAS, has officially confirmed it secured the broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030 for Thailand, announcing a 5,999 baht premium viewing package at a press conference in Bangkok today, June 11. The company said it is the sole FIFA rights holder in Thailand for the World Cup 2026, which will take place from…
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2026 World Cup broadcast rights not secured, report says
A source has denied reports that Jasmine International Public Company Limited (JAS) has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying no announcement is scheduled. Recent reports claimed JAS had completed a deal with FIFA for the rights to broadcast the 2026 World Cup in Thailand and was preparing to announce the agreement. However, the information has…
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Why more Southeast Asian traders are turning to gold and silver in 2026
Trading activity continues to expand across Southeast Asia, with more and more participants entering global financial markets to explore the intricacies of income generation, portfolio diversification, and analytical skills. One clear trend is emerging in 2026: growing interest in gold and silver trading amid geopolitical instability and high volatility. But what’s fueling this shift? Let’s explore the key drivers behind…
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How to generate promotional videos for trampoline parks with AI
Step into a pottery studio, and there is one thing that stands out about the place from the moment you enter it. This includes the spinning of the wheel, the feel of the mud on your hands, shelves of pottery creations made by hand, and a group of focused artists. For the pottery studios, being able to capture such an…
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JAS targets World Cup 2026 rights in bid to retain Premier League subscribers
Jasmine International Emerges as Frontrunner for Thailand’s 2026 World Cup Broadcast Rights Thailand’s Jasmine International Pcl (JAS) has emerged as the leading contender to secure the domestic broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026, following the withdrawal of its main competitor, True Corporation. According to prominent local sports journalist Bebangpakong, True decided to pull out of the bidding process,…
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Why electronic identity documents are raising the bar for fraud prevention
Identity fraud has become one of the biggest challenges facing organisations that rely on digital onboarding and remote customer verification. As fraudsters gain access to increasingly sophisticated tools—including AI-generated identities, forged documents, and deepfake technologies—traditional document checks alone are often no longer sufficient. To address these threats, businesses and government agencies are increasingly turning to RFID verification as an additional…
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Malaysia bans Thai shrimp over seabass dispute, 4 billion baht at risk
Malaysia’s ban on Thai shrimp imports took effect on June 1, targeting five species and putting more than 4 billion baht in annual export revenue at immediate risk. The measure is a direct response to Thailand’s own import restrictions on Malaysian seabass, and it has already disrupted trade on both sides of the border. What Malaysia has banned and why…
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Co-payment scheme begins, opposition flags borrowed funds
More than 39.2 million people have begun receiving 1,000 baht in government support today, June 1, as the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme officially launches, according to the Finance Ministry. Permanent Secretary for Finance Lavaron Sangsnit said beneficiaries comprise 13.18 million state welfare cardholders and 26.04 million people registered under the 60/40 co-payment programme. Funds are accessible daily from…
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Thai economy threatened by migrant worker shortage amid rising costs
Thailand’s government faces growing pressure to tackle a migrant worker shortage that is compounding economic difficulties driven by high energy costs and threatening key industries, a business group warned on Friday. The Thai Chamber of Commerce called on the government to speed up work permit renewals, particularly for Cambodian workers, to prevent them losing their legal status. The move is…
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Thailand’s 2026 GDP outlook firms up on private investment surge
Thailand’s economy picked up pace in the first quarter of 2026, with the NESDC reporting GDP growth of 2.8%, ahead of the 2.5% recorded in the final quarter of last year. Both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors contributed to the improvement. Farm output grew by 1.2%, more than doubling the 0.6% seen in the previous quarter, while the broader non-agricultural…
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Why the gold price surging past 4,700 USD is both a blessing and a headache for Thailand’s central bank
Thailand has always had a deep relationship with gold. It is savings, family wealth, emergency money, and a trusted asset when markets feel unstable. But in 2026, gold has become more than a household favourite. It has turned into a serious currency issue for the Bank of Thailand. The gold price surging past 4,700 USD is a blessing because it…
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Bank of Thailand cuts GDP forecast to 1.5%, slashes interest rate to 1% as war and trade pressures bite
Thailand’s central bank has issued its starkest economic warning in years. The Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) Monetary Policy Report for Q1 2026 revised the country’s GDP growth forecast sharply downward to just 1.5%, well below the 2.4% recorded in 2025, as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to cut the benchmark interest rate to a historic low of 1.00% per…
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Anutin clarifies ‘miscommunication’, insisting foreign businesses still require permits
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul apologised after confusion surrounding a Cabinet policy that led many people to believe that foreign investors would be allowed to operate businesses in Thailand without permits. The controversy emerged after Deputy Government Spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn announced yesterday, May 13, that the Cabinet had approved changes affecting eight categories of businesses operated by foreign investors. Patdarasm assured…
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Thailand eases foreign business red tape in eight sectors to cut regulatory overlap
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved in principle two pieces of draft subordinate legislation under the Foreign Business Act 1999, exempting eight service business categories from the requirement to obtain a foreign business licence, the government announced on May 12. Deputy Government Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn, announced the Cabinet meeting. The two instruments, a draft royal decree and…
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Bangkok MP questions AOT fee hike despite billion-baht profits
Bangkok MP Suphanat Minchaiynunt has questioned the government over AOT’s planned airport fee increase from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per international departure passenger from June 20, 2026. The increase of more than 50% has drawn public debate amid rising living costs and higher travel expenses. AOT cited the need to fund airport improvements to meet ICAO standards. Suphanat Minchaiynunt…
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How global gaming turns local through sports and online play
Global gaming used to involve one giant audience moving in the same direction. That is no longer how the market feels from the player side. The same internet that spread games worldwide has made regional habits more visible, from Southeast Asia’s mobile-first communities to Australia’s sports-led online entertainment moments. A useful way to understand this shift is to see games…
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Pokémon Centre Bangkok to open at centralwOrld in 2026
Thailand will get its first Pokémon Centre in 2026, with Pokémon Centre Bangkok set to open at centralwOrld in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok. Pokémon (Thailand) has signed a lease agreement with Central Pattana for the new Bangkok branch. The deal was signed by Shunsuke Sasaki, director of Pokémon (Thailand), and Isareit Chirathivat, Central Pattana’s Head of Leasing – Fashion &…
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Thailand hits 60-year investment record as Amazon, Google, BYD and others bet big
If you only looked at the investment scoreboard for Southeast Asian economies last year, chances are you would probably want to skip over Thailand. While Vietnam was sprinting ahead with 7% growth and Indonesia held steady at 5%, Thailand was limping with a meagre 2.4%. With the IMF recently cutting its 2026 projection to a dismal 1.6%, the narrative that…
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16 restaurants seized in Bang Tao beach encroachment crackdown
huket authorities seized five rai of Choeng Talay coastline after discovering restaurants unlawfully charging access fees, prompting imminent legal prosecution against investors. Phuket Deputy Governor Rungruang Thimabut led a joint operation to inspect the area. Officials discovered private investors had fenced off the public beach. They built 16 restaurants and other commercial structures on the site. These operators restricted public…
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How sports entertainment is changing in Asia – 2026 update
Asia’s sports entertainment landscape looks nothing like it did five years ago. The region now generates more than half of all global esports revenue, while Southeast Asia’s digital economy crossed $300 billion in gross merchandise value during 2025. The way fans engage with sport has shifted dramatically. Streaming platforms, interactive prediction markets, and digital experiences from platforms like BETVIBE India…
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Fujiseiki showcases TSDH shari ball machine at THAIFEX-HOREC ASIA 2026
Japanese food-production equipment manufacturer Fujiseiki Co., Ltd. said it is advancing automation-focused production systems as demand grows for efficient operations that maintain consistent quality, hygiene and safety standards in food manufacturing. Published by Global Kigyo, the report said Fujiseiki has built an international reputation for developing machines that produce artisan Japanese foods such as sushi and onigiri to match the…
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