Economy

Toyota vehicles on a ship at Thailand's Laem Chabang Port. The automaker expects the new ASEAN accord to support the country's exports. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa)
Automobiles

Thai automakers applaud landmark ASEAN accord to ease test rules

Recertification by importers to be axed, reducing risk of non-tariff barriers

15 September 2020
Precision or personalized medicine based on analysis of patients' genomes is beginning to catch on in Southeast Asia. (Nikkei illustration)
Asia Insight

Cracking ASEAN's code: Inside the push for genomic medicine

Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand doctors seek funds as COVID adds new hurdle

15 September 2020
A woman sits near a beach which is usually full of tourists in Phuket on Mar. 10: hardest hit are informal workers with 81% of those employed in tourism losing their jobs.
Opinion

Thailand's real crisis is the economy

Political grievances peripheral to economic damage being wrought by COVID-19

9 September 2020
Thailand's former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak in Bangkok on June 14, 2017.
Comment

Thailand's economic wizard throws in the towel

Former deputy PM Somkid falls victim to ruling-party infighting

30 August 2020
A medical personnel uses a bag-mask valve at an isolation facility in Metro Manila on May 1: few problems are insurmountable when collaborative science rise to the occasion.
Opinion

Reimagining Asia's response to COVID-19

Purpose-driven leadership, digital transformation and collective effort are critical

19 August 2020
The lack of foreign tourists has been a huge blow to Thailand's economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
Economy

Thailand Q2 GDP contracts 12.2% amid COVID-induced recession

Shut borders and business lockdowns hit Southeast Asia's second-largest economy

17 August 2020
A Pimalai Resort & Spa employee sanitizes doorknobs and other frequently touched spots. (Photo courtesy of Pimalai Resort & Spa)
Coronavirus

Robots in, buffets out: Asia hotels try socially distant hospitality

Safety trumps human touch as countries ease COVID rules and push staycations

16 August 2020
A durian shop at a wholesale market outside of Bangkok: The Thai government has shuffled its cabinet, and a key proponent of joining the pact resigned last month.
International relations

TPP postpones talks on Thailand's entry amid political flux

Coronavirus causes four member nations to delay ratifying trade agreement

7 August 2020
The Government House in Bangkok. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, under pressure to boost the economy, has unveiled a new cabinet ahead of schedule.
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand unveils new cabinet with economic czar from PTT group

Appointments show Prayuth's priority is to restructure COVID-hit state entities

6 August 2020
Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput has worked at the World Bank as a senior economist in the 1990s and early 2000s. (Courtesy of Bank of Thailand)
Economy

Thai PM's economic adviser picked to head central bank

Sethaput has few moves left to boost the slumping economy amid low inflation

29 July 2020
Thai companies have been accused by animal welfare activists of abusing monkeys, which are sometimes used to harvest coconuts.
Environment

Thailand's coconut-picking monkeys trigger ethics debate

Local food processors promise traceability to head off threat of boycotts

25 July 2020
More than 300 Chinese travelers eagerly await a visit to Thailand for the kingdom's "medical and wellness program". (Source photos by Reuters and Akira Kodaka)
Health Care

Thailand attracts hordes of Chinese patients despite COVID

Couples seek in vitro fertilization defying high costs and stringent quarantine

22 July 2020
A hotel worker wearing a protective face mask and goggles is seen through a plastic partition at the reception desk of Mitsui Garden Hotel Nihonbashi Premier in Tokyo on June 26.
Asia Insight

Japan's Go To Travel plan spurs fears of 'man-made' COVID disaster

As Thailand and Taiwan seek to boost tourism, Tokyo residents barred from scheme

21 July 2020
Thailand's parliament meeting hall: no one at the helm to navigate huge economic challenges.
Opinion

Thailand's rulers must act fast to reverse COVID-19 economic damage

Vital reforms elude Prime Minister Prayuth's cabinet despite six years in power

20 July 2020
More Hong Kong citizens are applying for Thailand's long-term residency program. (Source photo by Akira Kodaka and Reuters) 
Economy

Thai residency visa draws Hong Kongers after China security law

Kingdom poised to compete with UK and Australia to attract territory's emigrants

17 July 2020
Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana is an economic reformer locked in an intraparty feud with military hardliners.
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's finance chief leads exit of reformers from ruling party

Resignation by ex-party head Uttama ramps up pressure for cabinet reshuffle

10 July 2020
Prawit Wongsuwan, the former general, center left, benefited from his proximity to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, center right. The two hold hands as they take part in a water-pouring blessing in Bangkok, April 11, 2019.
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's ex-army chief poised to contain rifts in ruling party

Prayuth's closest aide leads Palang Pracharath as pandemic-hit economy struggles

9 July 2020
Thailand has cast a wider net in its search for a new central bank governor, with incumbent Veerathai Santiprabhob's term is set to expire at the end of September. (Nikkei montage/Reuters)
Economy

Bank of Thailand seeks outside picks for chief as deadline nears

Successor to Harvard grad Veerathai will have little room to cut interest rates

8 July 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Asian economies hard. Conditions in the ASEAN5 countries and India are still deteriorating, with trade and movement of people restricted in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. 
Economy

ASEAN and India sink into deep minus growth: JCER survey

Acceleration of digitization expected due to COVID-19 pandemic

7 July 2020
The symbol of the Islamic State terrorist group on a smartphone: when it comes to extremist content online, time is of the essence.
Opinion

Tech companies continue evading accountability for violent content

Governments must step in to stop platforms allowing pro-terrorist material

5 July 2020
A passenger walks through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thailand's airport expansion plan rests on the hope that travel will recover from he coronavirus pandemic.
Transportation

Thailand's travel slump clouds outlook for $9bn 'Airport City'

Hopes for attracting aviation-related investment depend on growth in aircraft fleets

1 July 2020
 Passengers walk through Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on June 8. Thailand is extending its coronavirus state of emergency for a third time but will also further ease restrictions, including some covering travel into the kingdom. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Coronavirus

Thailand stays under COVID-19 emergency with third extention

Curbs will be eased, paving way for allowing business travel from Japan and China

30 June 2020
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, front center, is flanked by fellow ex-general Prawit Wongsuwan to the left and economic Somkid Jatusripitak to the right in July 2019. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's TPP stance on the line as ex-general heads ruling party

Prime minister under pressure to dump economic reformers in cabinet reshuffle

29 June 2020
Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on Sunday greets a voter during a walkabout ahead of the general election in Singapore.
Your Week in Asia

China's CO2 rules, Luckin investors meet, Singapore campaigning begins

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 June 2020
Chinese tourists pose on a beach in Thailand's Phang-Nga province in January, before the coronavirus pandemic upset travel to the Southeast Asian destination. Now, Chinese may be looking for another escape.
Coronavirus

Chinese jump at 'elite' Thailand visas to escape coronavirus

Beijing's new outbreak prompts wealthy to seek second home, agents say

26 June 2020