Debt-stricken Sri Lanka signed a trade pact with Thailand on Saturday in a bid to boost trade and investment as the Indian Ocean island nation is struggling to recover from its worst economic crisis that hit two year ago. The Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement covering trade in goods, investment, custom procedures, and intellectual property … Read more
China’s foreign minister has called for China and Thailand to expedite the construction of the delayed high-speed railway project connecting the two countries, after years of delays. Speaking to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday, at the end of a three-day visit to Bangkok, Wang said that the two nations “should jointly advance high-quality Belt and … Read more
After roughly five months in office, Thailand’s flamboyant Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin finally got to roll out the red carpet for his first official foreign visitor. And perhaps not on anybody’s bingo card, the first distinguished foreign guest was Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s current president and former foreign minister. His three-day trip from January 24 to … Read more
On January 10, Thailand’s government announced that it is reversing its progressive policies toward cannabis, just 18 months after becoming the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalize the drug. The new government, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aims to limit cannabis use strictly to medical purposes, as indicated by a recently proposed bill. … Read more
Thailand’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been allowed to remain in hospital for medical treatment, the country’s Department of Corrections said yesterday, claiming that a return to prison could endanger his life. Thaksin, the spiritual leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, has been in hospital since his return from 15 years of … Read more
Thailand’s 500 billion baht ($14.3 billion) “digital wallet” stimulus plan is on track to proceed on schedule in May, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters yesterday, despite some lingering uncertainty about his government’s use of loans to pay for the scheme. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Srettha, who also serves as Thailand’s finance minister, said that … Read more
Thailand and China will permanently waive visa requirements for each other’s citizens from March in a bid to boost travel between the two countries, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday. The move follows Thailand’s introduction of a temporary visa waiver for Chinese nationals in September, which was due to expire at the end of … Read more
On December 26, 2023, the Thai Cabinet approved a 2.37 percent hike in the minimum wage, sparking a nuanced discussion about its economic implications and associated concerns regarding competitiveness. As Thailand navigates this contentious issue, a forward-looking strategy involves comprehensive long-term planning to adapt to evolving economic landscapes. Beyond numerical figures, the debate centers on … Read more
Yesterday, Thai lawmakers resoundingly passed a package of four draft laws on same-sex marriage, moving the country a step closer to becoming Southeast Asia’s first nation to enshrine such unions in law. According to the Bangkok Post, the draft legislation received nearly unanimous support in the lower house of Parliament and was approved by an … Read more
On November 20, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed concern over the significantly slower-than-anticipated growth in the third quarter. The economy grew by just 1.5 percent for the July-September quarter, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported last week, compared to the 2.4 percent predicted by economists, the second consecutive quarter of easing … Read more