Thai Times

New Zealand Draws Wealthy Americans With Revamped Investor Visa

More than 700 people have applied for residence through the relaxed scheme in 14 months, committing at least 4.8 billion New Zealand dollars as the country seeks capital and expertise.

Thailand Expands Trade Enforcement as Chinese Manufacturing Relocations Drive Export Growth

Thailand recorded twenty-one point four trillion baht in international trade during the first ten months of the fiscal year as companies relocating from China under the China Plus One strategy boosted exports, while customs authorities i...

Thailand’s Aging Population Shifts Consumer Power Toward Older Generations and Premium Markets

Economic research shows Generation X now holds around five trillion baht in purchasing power as Thailand’s birth rate declines, pushing businesses in banking, healthcare, and housing to focus more on higher-value products and services fo...

Thailand Tightens Data Center Investment Rules to Ease Power and Water Pressure on Digital Infrastructure

The Thailand Board of Investment introduced new screening requirements for data center projects and is working with energy authorities to map electricity and water capacity as rapid investment growth strains infrastructure in the Eastern...

Lightning Strike Kills Yala FC Player During Match in Southern Thailand

Safwan Awae, 24, died after lightning struck the pitch during the Golok FA Cup in Narathiwat; 12 other players, including a Malaysian, were injured.

Senate Scrutinises AI-Driven Personalised Pricing

A hearing led by Senator Josh Hawley examined whether companies can use browsing, location and purchasing data to charge different customers different prices for the same product.

Kasikornbank Urges Thai Businesses and Investors to Adjust Strategies for Global Economic Shifts

Kasikornbank executives are advising companies and investors to prepare for deglobalization, demographic aging, and digital disruption by focusing more on healthcare, digital infrastructure, and localized business opportunities in the se...

Thai Stock Market Gains Twenty-Six Percent in 2026 as Corporate Earnings Support Investor Confidence

Thailand’s SET Index has recovered strongly through early August 2026, with analysts pointing to solid listed-company earnings and attractive valuations as factors supporting renewed interest from institutional investors despite wider em...

Thailand Expands Aviation Links With Indonesia Through New Bangkok and Phuket Routes

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is partnering with Indonesian carrier TransNusa to launch direct flights from Jakarta to Bangkok and Bali to Phuket in August 2026, aiming to attract more high-value Indonesian travelers and diversify in...

Thailand’s Key Growth Drivers Remain Data Centers, AI, EV Manufacturing and Tourism Expansion

Thailand’s economic outlook continues to be shaped by rising investment in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence development, electric vehicle manufacturing and the ongoing recovery of international tourism.

Thailand Consumer Confidence Improves for Second Consecutive Month on Tourism and Export Recovery

Thailand’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to fifty-one point one in July as improving tourism income, strong manufacturing exports and government stimulus measures supported household sentiment.

Foreign Investors Expected to Continue Supporting Thai Stock Market Growth

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations expects foreign institutional investment to continue flowing into the Stock Exchange of Thailand during the second half of the year, with analysts raising earnings expectations for bank...

NEX Point Expands Electric Commercial Vehicle Business With Acquisition of Thai EV Company

Shareholders of NEX Point Public Company approved the one hundred fifty million baht acquisition of Thai EV Company, allowing the manufacturer to expand its zero-emission commercial vehicle lineup from small transport trucks to heavy-dut...

Thailand Introduces Autonomous Vehicle Safety Standards to Support Future Manufacturing Investment

The Thai government has introduced five new safety standards for automated driving systems, creating regulatory guidelines aimed at supporting autonomous vehicle development, testing and future investment by global automakers.

Thailand Launches First Virtual Bank as Demand for Digital Financial Services Surges

A joint venture between Krung Thai Bank, Advanced Info Service and PTT Oil and Retail has launched Thailand’s first virtual bank, attracting strong early demand for mobile lending and digital banking services.

Thailand and Vietnam Target Twenty-Five Billion Dollar Trade Goal After Fifty Years of Diplomatic Relations

Thailand and Vietnam marked the fiftieth anniversary of diplomatic ties by advancing a strategic action plan focused on strengthening supply chains, increasing investment cooperation and expanding bilateral trade to twenty-five billion d...

Thailand Welcomes Eighteen Point Five Million Foreign Tourists as Travel Recovery Strengthens

Thailand recorded more than eighteen point five million international visitors between January and August, with strong long-haul travel demand and rising arrivals from South Korea and China supporting expectations for a strong winter tou...

Thai Exports Rise Seventeen Percent as Global AI Demand Boosts Technology Shipments

Thailand’s exports increased seventeen point six percent year on year in the first half of the year, supported by a forty-five percent jump in technology and electronic shipments as global demand for artificial intelligence hardware cont...

Thailand Investment Applications Exceed One Trillion Baht as Data Centers Drive Technology Expansion

Thailand’s Board of Investment reported more than one trillion baht in investment applications during its sixtieth anniversary year, with digital infrastructure projects including hyperscale data centers and cloud services accounting for...

Great Wall Motor Becomes First Automaker to Complete Thailand EV 3.5 Manufacturing Requirements

China’s Great Wall Motor has met the Thai government’s electric vehicle incentive conditions through its Rayong Smart Factory, accelerating local production plans and expanding domestic supply chain integration for electric vehicles.

Thailand Tightens Data Center Investment Rules to Protect Energy and Water Resources

The Board of Investment is introducing stricter screening for data center projects, requiring reviews of national benefits, electricity capacity, water availability, and environmental impacts while adding a four point five million baht p...

Thailand Telecom Regulator Crisis Deepens as Board Walkout Halts More Than Thirty Urgent Decisions

Three National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission board members walked out of a key meeting amid a leadership dispute over the chairman’s alleged external roles, leaving major regulatory issues including satellite licensing a...

Indonesia’s Free School Meals Plan Has Been Hit by Poisoning, Corruption and Cuts

President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship nutrition programme aimed to reach tens of millions of children and pregnant women, but its rapid rollout has exposed major failures in food safety and oversight.

Thailand Submits Bid to Host WorldPride 2030 as Government Targets Global Tourism Boost

A Thai delegation led by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has presented Thailand’s bid to host WorldPride 2030 in the Netherlands, with officials highlighting potential benefits for tourism, aviation, retail, and the...

Thailand Launches Indigenous AI and Drone Platforms for Industrial Applications

AI and Robotics Ventures and SKYLLER have introduced Thai-developed enterprise drone and artificial intelligence systems designed for energy inspections, emissions monitoring, and temperature-controlled logistics, marking a broader push ...

Thailand’s Foreign Investment Inflows Overtake Vietnam as Global Manufacturers Rebalance Supply Chains

Thailand has surpassed Vietnam in foreign direct investment inflows as multinational companies expand beyond traditional production hubs, boosting investment in electric vehicles, data centers, advanced electronics, and other high-value ...

Thailand’s Digital Infrastructure and Advanced Manufacturing Investment Surge Remains Key Economic Trend

Foreign investment is accelerating into Thailand’s data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced electronics sectors as companies diversify supply chains and respond to growing artificial intelligence demand. Tourism continues ...

Thai AirAsia Launches Heritage-Inspired Inflight Menu to Promote Thai Cuisine Globally

Thai AirAsia has introduced a new inflight dining program featuring recipes from the long-established SEE FAH restaurant brand, using the airline’s international passenger network to showcase Thai culinary culture.

Thai Honda Keeps Motorcycle Prices Stable While Preparing Factory for Future EV Production

Thai Honda has maintained current motorcycle pricing while confirming that its one point seven five million unit manufacturing facility is ready to support future electric vehicle production as domestic demand develops.

Eastern Economic Corridor Leaders Support Three-Airport Rail Link Expansion to Boost Tourism and Investment

Business groups and property developers in Pattaya and the wider Eastern Economic Corridor are backing expansion of the Airport Rail Link connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports to improve access for tourists and invest...

NEX Point Approves Acquisition of Thai EV to Expand Commercial Electric Vehicle Business

Shareholders of NEX Point have approved the one hundred and fifty million baht acquisition of Thai EV Company, allowing the company to expand its commercial electric vehicle operations across passenger and logistics segments.

Thailand Targets Higher Private Investment to Push Economic Growth Above Three Percent

The National Economic and Social Development Council and the Ministry of Finance have outlined a strategy to raise private investment to twenty-four percent of gross domestic product, aiming to support stronger long-term economic expansion.

Thai Capital Market Leaders Predict Stock Market Recovery as Foreign Investment Accelerates

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations expects the Stock Exchange of Thailand Index to strengthen by year-end as foreign investment flows into future industries and advanced manufacturing projects improve investor confidence.

Thailand Tourism Revenue Reaches Eight Hundred and Ninety-Six Billion Baht as Foreign Arrivals Exceed Eighteen Million

Thailand welcomed more than eighteen point five million international visitors in the first seven months of the year, generating strong tourism income and maintaining momentum ahead of the peak travel season.

Thailand Attracts Twenty-Seven Billion Dollars in Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Investment Applications

Thailand has become a major destination for high-tech manufacturing investment, with more than twenty-six billion dollars in applications for semiconductor, printed circuit board, and advanced electronics projects over the past three yea...

Thailand Approves Three Billion Dollar Data Center Expansion to Strengthen Regional Digital Hub Ambitions

The Thailand Board of Investment has approved seven new data center and hosting projects worth more than three point one billion dollars, supporting the country’s push to attract artificial intelligence infrastructure and global digital ...

US and Japan Step In to Support the Yen in Rare Joint Intervention

Washington joined Tokyo in buying yen after the currency fell to a four-decade low, raising the stakes for global bond markets as well as Japan’s economy.

The AI Pricing Problem: Companies Cannot Predict Their Own Bills

Falling model costs are colliding with soaring use of AI agents, leaving software firms unsure whether to charge by subscription, usage or results.

Apple’s OpenAI Lawsuit Becomes a Public Fight Over AI Hardware

OpenAI has answered Apple’s trade-secrets allegations with published emails and messages, turning a dispute over former employees into a test of both companies’ device ambitions.

UK Man Jailed After Keeping His Mother’s Body in a Freezer and Claiming £78,000

Christopher Phillips concealed Sylvia Phillips’s death for nearly three years at their home in south Wales while her pension and benefits continued to be paid.

A SpaceX Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon — and Scientists Hope to Watch

A discarded Falcon 9 stage is expected to hit the lunar surface on Wednesday at more than 5,400 miles per hour, creating a fresh crater and a plume of dust that may be visible through telescopes.

Thailand Tightens Corporate Rules to Prevent Illegal Foreign Nominee Ownership Structures

The Department of Business Development introduced stricter compliance checks requiring greater financial transparency from companies to verify ownership arrangements, protect fair competition, and distinguish legitimate foreign investmen...

Thailand Welcomes Millions of International Visitors Despite Tourism Slowdown From Regional Travel Challenges

Thailand recorded eighteen point five one million foreign arrivals between January and August, generating more than eight hundred ninety-six billion baht in tourism revenue, while weaker short-haul travel demand was partly offset by resi...

Thailand Attracts Record Investment Applications as High-Tech Industries Drive New Growth

The Thailand Board of Investment reported that first-half investment applications surged thirty-seven percent year-on-year to forty-seven point four seven billion US dollars, led by stronger foreign investment in electronics, semiconduct...

Thailand Opens New Sadao Border Checkpoint to Strengthen Trade and Tourism With Malaysia

Thailand has inaugurated the new Sadao Customs Checkpoint in Songkhla, creating a higher-capacity land connection with Malaysia's Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing that is expected to improve cross-border logistics, support regional commerce, an...