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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    Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand

    Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...

  • High-end watch demand increases among younger Thai generation

    High-end watch demand increases among younger Thai generation

    A constant evolution and inherent value have ensured a secure niche for high-end watches in today’s market, said Narun Thamavaranukup, the managing director of watch distribution company, PMT The Hour Glass. With smartphones ubiquitous, one might think wristwatches would lose their charm. However, as Narun says, these timepieces are more than mere instruments to tell time. For Narun, watches play…

  • Fitch affirms Thailand’s BBB+ rating, forecasts GDP and tourism growth

    Fitch affirms Thailand’s BBB+ rating, forecasts GDP and tourism growth

    Having earned a reputation for shrewd financial forecasting, Fitch Ratings has given Thailand‘s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) a rating affirmation of BBB+ and a stable outlook. The judgement is largely influenced by a balance between the firm’s macroeconomic policy framework and sound external finances, gauged against some structural weaknesses like the lower per capita income and lower World…

  • Thai private sector braced for impact amid political unrest and government delays

    Thai private sector braced for impact amid political unrest and government delays

    Protests and potential political instability are causing growing unease within Thailand‘s private sector, chiefly due to the impact of delays in forming the country’s new government. The possible effects are multifaceted, potentially touching areas such as new investments and the tourism industry. The Thai Chamber of Commerce’s vice-chairman, Poj Aramwattananont, expressed concern yesterday in light of recent moves by the…

  • Thai stock market fluctuates amid MFP leader’s shareholding controversy

    Thai stock market fluctuates amid MFP leader’s shareholding controversy

    The Move Forward Party (MFP) leader’s shareholding case prompts fluctuations in the Thai stock market. The Exchange Commission (EC) yesterday referred Pita Limjaroenrat’s iTV shareholding case to the Constitutional Court for resolution, sending ripples through the stock market. Suspicions regarding Pita’s iTV shareholding led the EC to propose he ceases all MP duties immediately, pending court deliberation in the following…

  • PTT Plc amplifies renewable energy drive with hydrogen fuel advancement

    PTT Plc amplifies renewable energy drive with hydrogen fuel advancement

    National energy titan PTT Plc is bolstering initiatives to harness additional renewable power sources and progress its hydrogen fuel enterprise, as part of a strategy for sustainable company growth. Cherdchai Boonchoochauy, Senior Executive Vice President for Innovation and New Ventures, specified that PTT’s existing blueprint is to create 12 gigawatts of renewable electricity and restrict power generated from non-renewable fuels…

  • Thailand’s foreign direct investment skyrockets with focus on EV industry

    Thailand’s foreign direct investment skyrockets with focus on EV industry

    Investment attraction to Thailand has seen a remarkable surge in the first half of this year. The nation registered a 70% year-on-year increase to an impressive 364 billion baht, according to the Board of Investment (BoI). This boost, particularly contributed by an astonishing 141% soar in foreign direct investment, serves as a testament to Thailand’s status as a preferred manufacturing…

  • DES ministry set to combat cybercrime with new AI registry

    DES ministry set to combat cybercrime with new AI registry

    The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) in Thailand is gearing up to introduce the Central Fraud Registry, a technological solution designed to combat scams and tackle illegal transactions. This innovation stems from the National Interbank Transaction Management and Exchange, a collaboration between the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA) and the Bank of Thailand. As stated by notable DES figures,…

  • Thai rice exports poised to hit 9 million tonnes amid climate anxieties

    Thai rice exports poised to hit 9 million tonnes amid climate anxieties

    Thailand stands on the cusp of a hugely promising year in terms of rice exportation, which, forecasts suggest, could reach up to 9 million tonnes. Making the most of a climate-induced market fervour, the Thai industry gleefully anticipates shipping masses of what is an integral commodity to many. The increase in demand is believed to be rooted in anxieties about…

  • Japanese tourism numbers in Thailand threatened by weak yen and slow Japan flight reintroduction

    Japanese tourism numbers in Thailand threatened by weak yen and slow Japan flight reintroduction

    In light of Japan’s hesitant return to tourism and a faltering yen, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) admitted there may be difficulty in meeting the year’s target of 850,000 Japanese arrivals. The figure reflects 50% of the Japanese tourism figures reported in 2019, considered an optimistic scenario by the Tokyo office director of TAT, Kajorndet Apichartrakul. As enclosed by Kajorndet, the…

  • TTB to tackle household debt and promote ESG standards

    TTB to tackle household debt and promote ESG standards

    Piti Tantakasem, Chief Executive of TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), insists that tackling high levels of household debt should be a priority on the national agenda. Piti made known that he is poised to tackle the issue, given his leading role within the household debt resolution team set up by the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA). Alongside the central bank and other pertinent…

  • Thailand’s potential as international events hub questioned amidst Taylor Swift tour snub

    Thailand’s potential as international events hub questioned amidst Taylor Swift tour snub

    The exclusion of Thailand from the itinerary of Taylor Swift‘s world tour has prompted the denizens to reconsider the nation’s global standing as a viable hub for international exhibitions and events. Bringing the country’s potential into question, it was revealed that the total revenue from meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry for the final quarter of last year was…

  • French firms eye big ticket investment in Thailand’s EEC

    French firms eye big ticket investment in Thailand’s EEC

    In a bid to fortify its economy, the Thai government is extending an invitation to French corporations to make significant investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Identified as an ideal zone for the development of a high-tech industrial park, the EEC comprises sections of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong. The authorities have identified aviation alongside 11 other S-curve industries…

  • GAC Aion to invest 6 billion baht in Thai EV market expansion

    GAC Aion to invest 6 billion baht in Thai EV market expansion

    China‘s third-largest electric vehicle (EV) producer, GAC Aion, is gearing up to expand its operations in the Thai market. In an ambitious plan, the automaker pledged to pour over 6 billion baht into the establishment of manufacturing and sales facilities in Thailand. This noteworthy market penetration comes as the result of the Board of Investment’s (BoI) careful arrangement involving seven…

  • Starbucks Thailand advances expansion, eyes 800 outlets by 2030

    Starbucks Thailand advances expansion, eyes 800 outlets by 2030

    Starbucks Thailand unveiled a bold expansion plan for the 2023 to 2030 period. The plan aims to increase the current number of Starbucks outlets in the country from 465 to a whopping total of 800 by the end of 2030. As per this agenda, the addition of 335 stores is projected across Thailand over the specified span. Nednapa Srisamai, the…

  • Marketing 6.0: MAT reveals trends shaping customer behaviour and tech influence

    Marketing 6.0: MAT reveals trends shaping customer behaviour and tech influence

    Changes in customer expectations prompted by digital disruption and evolving consumer behaviour indicate that the world is entering a new marketing era. Postmodern methodologies such as multiverse marketing – which fuses the physical and digital realms into a seamless buying experience – are at the forefront of Marketing 6.0, declared the Marketing Association of Thailand (MAT). According to the association’s…

  • THAI lags as Centara Grand emerges Thailand’s strongest brand

    THAI lags as Centara Grand emerges Thailand’s strongest brand

    The sluggish revival of business tourism, coupled with Thailand’s failure to establish itself as a global connection hub, has resulted in the brand value of Thai Airways (THAI) lagging behind its rivals. Conversely, Centara Grand Hotels & Resorts has emerged as the strongest brand in the nation this year. According to Alex Haigh, who serves as the Asia-Pacific Managing Director at…

  • Minor Food Group launches new Chinese restaurant in Bangkok

    Minor Food Group launches new Chinese restaurant in Bangkok

    Spurred by the recent rise in popularity of Chinese cuisine, Minor Food Group Plc debuted its first Riverside Grilled Fish & Mala restaurant in the heart of Bangkok today. Thunyachate Ekvetchavit, occupying the role of the top-ranking executive in the company, announced a 10-12 million baht budget allocation for the inauguration of the first branch of the renowned dining venue.…

  • Thai political truce sparks hopeful business and economic recovery prospects

    Thai political truce sparks hopeful business and economic recovery prospects

    Thailand‘s business leaders anticipate a more positive path for the Move Forward Party (MFP) and its seven ally political parties to constitute a government and address economic challenges, following the agreement on a House speaker. The MFP had earlier been engaged in disputes with the Pheu Thai Party over this significant role in the House of Representatives. The conflict was resolved…

  • HomePro invests 4 billion baht in eco-friendly store, diversifies product portfolio in Thailand

    HomePro invests 4 billion baht in eco-friendly store, diversifies product portfolio in Thailand

    Home decor and upgrade specialist, Home Product Center Plc, under the HomePro banner, declared a business expansion investment of 4 billion baht this year for store diffusion. Ittaporn Srisukwattana, the firm’s senior vice president of design and product development, articulated that this financial plan would be deployed towards the inauguration of two HomePro and eight Mega Home shops this year.…

  • Thai tourism unaffected by political unrest unless airports shut, says ex-minister

    Thai tourism unaffected by political unrest unless airports shut, says ex-minister

    In times of political upheaval, Thailand’s foreign tourists would not be significantly impacted, unless there was an incident akin to 2008’s airport disruption, according to former tourism and sports minister, Weerasak Kowsurat. Back in 2008, protesters had shut down Bangkok’s airports leading to a drop in tourist visits, impacting Thai tourism. Weerasak, now serving as a senator, insists that tourists…

  • EV Market soars as Thailand and Indonesia take the lead in Asia

    EV Market soars as Thailand and Indonesia take the lead in Asia

    In a global trend, electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily gaining traction in the worldwide automobile market, with significant growth realised in Asia-ASEAN countries, specifically Thailand and Indonesia. This comes as per a study undertaken by the BloombergNEF research agency. Ideally placed at the forefront of Asia-Pacific transportation, Senior Analyst of BloombergNEF, Allen Tom Abraham, projected a sharp increase in the…

  • LGBTQ+ tourism revenue boom fuels drive for legalised same-sex marriage in Thailand

    LGBTQ+ tourism revenue boom fuels drive for legalised same-sex marriage in Thailand

    Thailand is witnessing a surge in the burgeoning LGBTQ+ community, as diversity takes centre stage worldwide, boosting LGBTQ+ tourism in the country. As per estimates by LGBT Capital, an asset management company serving the LGBTQ community, 5 to 10% of the world’s population identifies as LGBTQ+. This demographic represented around 3.6 million residents in Thailand in 2019. During Pride Month…

  • Thai industries adjust strategies amid export downturn, eyes new markets

    Thai industries adjust strategies amid export downturn, eyes new markets

    A recent downturn in exports has provoked 25 industry sectors to rethink their production strategies, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has revealed. Key industries affected and readjusting include steel, machinery, construction materials and furniture, all of which significantly cater to the markets in Asia, the European Union and the United States. The FTI recently unveiled the results of a…

  • Customs facilitation reform urged by Thailand’s finance minister to boost automotive sector

    Customs facilitation reform urged by Thailand’s finance minister to boost automotive sector

    Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith recently issued an appeal to the Customs Department of Thailand to streamline the customs facilitation formalities for both exports and imports. His appeal is aimed especially at boosting the activity of the automotive field. Following a discussion held with a group of investors from Japan in the core of June, Arkhom instructed the department to better…

  • Experienced consultant analyses dramatic shift in Thai online shopping trends

    Experienced consultant analyses dramatic shift in Thai online shopping trends

    In Thailand, online shopping  appears to have become the desired norm, with a proportionate increase in consumer expectations, per a survey by advertising consultancy Wunderman Thompson. The data suggest that Thai patrons are willing to increase their online spending provided their experience includes faster delivery schedules among other factors, according to digital and customer relationship management director at Wunderman Thompson, Puvadon…

  • Digital infrastructure to revolutionise Thailand’s capital market

    Digital infrastructure to revolutionise Thailand’s capital market

    A revolutionary digital infrastructure has been established in Thailand’s capital market, following collaborative efforts by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Association of Thai Securities Companies, and the Thai Bankers’ Association. The state-of-the-art system, aimed at fully electronic end-to-end bond offerings, was presented in an attempt to enhance the Thai market’s efficacy and transparency. This dynamic solution covers a broad…

  • Thai tourism targets wealthy Asian expatriates for industry boost

    Thai tourism targets wealthy Asian expatriates for industry boost

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set their sights on the growing wealth of Asian expatriates as a potential boon for the Thai tourism industry. Chinese nationals residing in Cambodia and Laos have been particularly targeted due to their propensity for choosing Thailand as a location to send their children for education. According to Oranooch Pakapan-Rutten, TAT’s marketing representative for Cambodia…

  • Thai industries call for government aid to stimulate export growth amid falling rates

    Thai industries call for government aid to stimulate export growth amid falling rates

    Industry leaders are soliciting governmental assistance in a bid to boost export growth, following steady declines observed over a streak of eight months, according to recent insights sourced from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Discussions with 210 executives from 45 sectors of the industry revealed that an overwhelming 80% of respondents were in favour of government initiatives to trim…

  • Thai tourism federation FETTA plans transformative change for streamlined operations

    Thai tourism federation FETTA plans transformative change for streamlined operations

    Faced with a long-standing need for agile operations and goal-directed development, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) is set to drive transformative change in Thailand’s tourism landscape. This follows the recent realignment of seven local tourism associations that have transitioned from the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to become part of FETTA. According to Adith Chairattananon, a FETTA representative…

  • GPSC set to invest 8.28 billion baht in India’s Avaada Energy

    GPSC set to invest 8.28 billion baht in India’s Avaada Energy

    Embarking on a mission to bolster its renewable energy portfolio, Global Power Synergy Plc (GPSC), the power production offshoot of PTT Plc – the national oil and gas conglomerate, is looking at investing upwards of 19.1 billion rupees (roughly 8.28 billion baht) in India-based Avaada Energy Private. This investment is aimed at leveraging the upswing in electricity demand in the…