Channel News Asia
Thai consumer confidence at 25-month high in Dec as tourism recovers
Thai consumer confidence rose for a seventh straight month in December, reaching a 25-month high, boosted by improved economic activity and higher foreign tourist arrivals, a survey showed on Thursday.The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce rose to 49.7 in ...
Thai central bank expects virtual banks to start operations in 2025
Thailand’s central bank expects virtual banks to begin operating in the second quarter of 2025, it said in a statement on Thursday.The Bank of Thailand said it plans to propose giving licences to three operators for virtual banks, but may open this up for additional ...
Thai central bank to test retail digital currency late this year
Thailand’s central bank said on Friday (Aug 5) it expected to test its retail digital currency from late this year to the middle of 2023, as an alternative payment option.During the testing, the retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) will be used in conducting cash-like ...
Thai business group sticks by GDP outlook despite inflation risk
Thailand’s economy is still expected to grow 2.75 per cent to 3.5 per cent this year, helped by increased exports, more tourists, and government support, but faces rising inflationary pressures, a leading joint business group said on Wednesday (Aug 3).Exports are expected to increase 6 ...
Thai Finance Minister sees high oil prices, inflation as temporary
Thailand’s finance minister said on Thursday high oil prices and inflation should be temporary.The government has approved support measures in a bid to help ease the impact of oil prices and the higher cost of living, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told a business seminar.Keep reading ...
Thai government expects at least 3per cent GDP growth this year
Thailand expects the economy to grow no less than 3per cent this year, helped by a raft of support measures to mitigate the impact of soaring oil prices, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.The measures, approved on Tuesday, would be worth at least 50 billion ...
Thai Feb exports rise 16.2per cent y/y, beat forecast
Thailand’s exports rose by a more than expected 16.2per cent in February from a year earlier on improved global demand while the Russia-Ukraine war had yet to affect trade, the commerce minister said on Thursday.That compares with a forecast for a rise of 10.2per cent ...
Thai tourism sector calls for easing of COVID-19 requirements to boost arrivals
Tourism organisations in Thailand have called on the government to ease the COVID-19 requirements for international visitors to boost arrivals in time for the Easter holidays in April.Presidents of 20 tourism associations and councils submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and related officials, ...
Thai unemployment rate dips in Q2 but virus curbs to hit jobs
Thailand’s unemployment rate in the second quarter dipped from a 12-year high in the previous three month, but restrictions to contain the country’s biggest coronavirus outbreak are likely to impact more jobs, the state planning agency said on Wednesday.The Southeast Asian country’s latest outbreak that ...
Thailand greenlights quarantine-free travel model for Phuket
Thai authorities on Tuesday (Jun 22) greenlighted a pilot model for quarantine-free travel to ultra-popular beach destination Phuket, a first step towards the tourist-hungry kingdom’s goal of resuscitating its pandemic-battered economy.Thailand has imposed strict restrictions on visitor arrivals in order to stem COVID-19 infections, but ...