Economy

Thailand's newly introduced high-skilled worker visa program has drawn more than 1,600 applicants so far. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Economy

Americans, Chinese snap up Thai 'talent visas,' official says

Manufacturing hubs seek industrial upgrade amid supply-chain shift

3 December 2022
The Bank of Thailand again raised its policy rate a quarter point to 1.25% on Nov. 29 as it tries to tamp down inflation and keep pace with interest rate rises elsewhere to shore up the baht. 
Economy

Thailand hikes key interest rate to 1.25%, lowers growth outlook

Central bank walks tightrope between interest rate gap, economic recovery

30 November 2022
Singapore's nonoil exports shrank 5.6% on the year in October, breaking a nearly two-year streak of consistent expansion.
Economy

Singapore sees 2023 GDP growth as low as 0.5% as exports slump

City-state trims Q3 figure for this year, expects 'around 3.5%' expansion in 2022

23 November 2022
The growing number of foreign tourists making their way through Suvarnabhumi, Thailand's main airport, near Bangkok, has become something of an economic barometer. 
Economy

Thailand GDP expands 4.5% in Q3, buoyed by tourism

Private spending also helps economy mimic pre-COVID era but inflation weighs

21 November 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, center, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, arrive for the APEC leaders meeting in Bangkok on Nov. 18.
International relations

APEC opens atop Russia-U.S.-China fault lines

As leaders gather, Thailand aims for pact to codify sustainability agenda

18 November 2022
The Rama VIII bridge along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok was illuminated ahead of the APEC Summit 2022 that kicks off on Friday.
Economy

Thailand asks business to power down as leaders arrive for APEC

Energy crunch dims Bangkok while global economic leaders convene

14 November 2022
Thai Air Asia's reservations for flights to Japan are on the rise ahead of the holiday season.
Travel & Leisure

Thailand, Singapore tourists jump in line as Japan opens borders

Southeast Asia travel industry eyes recovery with weak yen fueling strong demand

26 October 2022
The Ukraine war has overshadowed Thailand's year as host of the APEC meetings. (Photo by Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
International relations

Ukraine war thwarts last APEC communique before leaders' summit

Some finance ministers draw link between Russia's invasion and inflation

21 October 2022
Thailand hopes to receive at least 10 million tourists this year. 
Travel & Leisure

Thailand shifts to European, U.S. tourists to rely less on Chinese

Tourism head touts sunny weather to those facing surging heating bills

11 October 2022
Flooding in a residential area of Chiang Mai on Oct. 6. (Photo by Yohei Muramatsu)
Economy

Thailand's flood damage spreads, threatening economic recovery

More than 70,000 homes hit as concerns grow over downstream Bangkok

9 October 2022
Bangkok Bank, Thailand's biggest lender, raised its lending rate by 30 to 40 basis points (0.30% to 0.40%) and increased its deposit rate by 15 to 50 basis points on Sept. 29.
Finance

Thai banks' interest rate hikes spark economic concerns

Weaker baht, trade deficit, household debt pose threat as financial costs rise

6 October 2022
A supermarket seafood counter in Bangkok. Thailand's shrimp supply has suffered so much that the government greenlit imports in August. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Food & Beverage

Thai shrimp output plunges by half from peak as disease spreads

World's former top exporter greenlights emergency imports to meet demand at home

6 October 2022
A combination of post-pandemic debt, inflation and currency fluctuations has thrown central banks throughout Asia into chaos this year. 
The Big Story

The money blizzard: Asia's central banks reckon with the aftermath of COVID-19

Governments from Japan to Thailand grapple with inflation, currency chaos and 'zombie companies' after biggest-ever bailout

5 October 2022
A competition for the best of the best workers is heating up across Asia, as governments and companies seek the talent they need to accelerate growth in the wake of COVID-19.
Asia Insight

From Singapore to Thailand, Asia dangles visas to lure high-fliers

New programs kick off as companies struggle to find skilled workers

4 October 2022
The Go! hypermarket, pictured here in Vietnam's Lao Cai province, is one of several chains Central Retail operates in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Central Group)
Retail

Thailand's Central Retail leads rush of global retailers to Vietnam

Vietnam's exceptional economic growth draws retailers of all stripes

4 October 2022
The Thai economy, which depends heavily on Chinese tourists, will be hit by a slowdown in China. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

ASEAN economies seen hit by U.S. rate hikes in 2023: JCER/Nikkei

Economists revise down forecasts to 4.3% for five regional countries

3 October 2022
Thailand's central bank is trying to tame price hikes, with the country's headline inflation hitting a 14-year high of 7.86% in August. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand lifts key rate by 25 basis points to 1% to curb inflation

Central bank eyes gradual tightening, with economy still on recovery course

28 September 2022
People shop for food in a market in Hanoi: Vietnam's economy is to grow faster than its Asia-Pacific peers this year, expanding by 7.2%, the World Bank said in its latest forecast.
Economy

Vietnam emerges as Asia's growth leader as China slows

Food, fuel subsidies risk long-term distortion, warns World Bank

27 September 2022
Thailand is pursuing more foreign investment in cutting-edge industries such as electric vehicles, Narit Therdsteerasukdi tells Nikkei Asia. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand banks on new visa to lure foreign talent, more investment

Next BOI chief says electric-vehicle transition strong despite weak 2022 FDI

20 September 2022
Many tourists are seen at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok on Sept. 11. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand says 2023 tourism revenue to be 80% of pre-COVID level

More than 1 million forecast to visit kingdom in September alone

19 September 2022
A woman works a rice field in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The country is considering price hikes for rice exports along with Vietnam, another major rice exporter.
Inflation

Vietnam, Thailand to meet in Oct. about raising rice export prices

Hikes could hit 20%, adding fuel to global inflation

16 September 2022
Thailand's cabinet, led by acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, on Sept. 13 decided to raise the minimum wage for the first time in two years.
Economy

Thailand approves 5% to 8% minimum wage increase

Companies worry higher labor costs will dampen profits amid fragile recovery

13 September 2022
Restaurants don't get much more convenient than Bangkok's famous street stalls, but they also don't become more of a nuisance. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Food & Beverage

Bangkok street vendors fear new governor's relocation plan

Chadchart Sittipunt wants to 'clean up' his city and remove 'ill-mannered' cooks

10 September 2022
Oil tanks at a petroleum depot in the port of Vladivostok, Russia. Myanmar starts importing Russian fuel oil as early as September.
Ukraine war

Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar deepen Russia ties to blunt economic woes

Southeast Asia nations seen giving Moscow breathing room on sanctions

6 September 2022
The dollar's nominal effective exchange rate against a broad basket of currencies, including from both advanced and emerging economies, is now at one of its highest points since it started publicizing the data in 1994. 
Currencies

Superstrong dollar threatens debt crisis across emerging economies

Mexico pressured to follow Fed hikes, while Sri Lanka's repayment costs soar

2 September 2022