Bangkok Post
Business groups see GDP contracting 3%-5% this year
Thailand’s economy may shrink 3%-5% this year, sharply down from growth of 1.5%-2.0% projected in March, as the coronavirus pandemic hits global demand and domestic activity, a group of leading business associations said on Thursday.The group also cut its forecast for 2020 exports, a key ...
La Nina may ease drought severity
Thailand may not encounter a severe drought this year as earlier expected, thanks to the influence of the La Nina phenomenon, but careful water usage is still needed especially among rice farmers who have been told to wait for the right time to start farming.“The ...
Apinya Wipatayotin
Thai Chamber of Commerce mulls CPTPP
The Thai Chamber of Commerce is pondering whether to back a controversial proposal to have Thailand join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to boost international trade in the aftermath of Covid-19.The trade agreement involving a newly formed bloc of 11 Pacific ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Covid-19 benefit boost sought
The Labour Ministry will seek cabinet approval for a large hike in compensation payments to workers insured under the Social Security Act who have lost their jobs or were suspended from work due to the Covid-19 outbreak, according to Labour Minister MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul.The ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Drive to create new digital hub takes on urgency
As the digital drive gains steam during the pandemic, Thailand must capitalise by turning into a global tech hub, says Digital Council of Thailand (DCT) president Suphachai Chearavanont.Mr Suphachai, chief executive of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, said the world is likely to recover fast after ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Funding for state cloud approved
The cabinet on Tuesday approved 4.75 billion baht to finance the Government Data Center and Cloud (GDCC) service between 2020 and 2022.Rachada Dhanadirek, the deputy government spokesman, said the GDCC is the central cloud system to be used by government agencies, ensuring safety and serving ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Cross-border movement down 7.6%
Thailand’s cross-border trade fell by 7.6% year-on-year in the first quarter as the coronavirus hit the global economy and led bordering countries to close dozens of checkpoints.The Foreign Trade Department on Tuesday said the country’s overall cross-border trade, including transit trade, totalled 264.97 billion baht ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Cabinet okays processed food roadmap
The cabinet has approved the first phase of a food and food processing development plan from 2020-2027, aiming to develop value-added products and increase competitiveness in the global market.The government wants to push Thailand to become Asean’s processed food hub by 2027. To achieve its ...
Lamonphet Apisitniran
Royal water project to reinvigorate farming
Pid Thong Lang Phra, a foundation dedicated to promoting the sufficiency economy vision of King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, has launched water-development schemes to address the scourge of mass unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.Karan Supakitvilekakarn, director-general of the Royal Initiative Discovery Institute under Pid ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
April consumer prices dive
The consumer price index (CPI), a gauge of headline inflation, fell 2.99% year-on-year in April, the biggest decline in 10 years and nine months.The major contributions came from energy prices, which saw the biggest drop in 11 years and two months, and discount goods and ...
Phusadee Arunmas
