Thai Times

Here Is What Can Never Happen in Your Country: Taiwan Is Giving Money to All Its People Because It Collected Too Much Tax

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan plans to give eligible citizens NT$10,000 each next year, sharing the gains of stronger tax revenue and the AI-led technology boom without increasing net public debt.

Thailand Accelerates Suvarnabhumi Airport Automation Ahead of Winter Tourism Surge

Thailand’s Transport Ministry is speeding up the installation of automated terminal systems at Suvarnabhumi Airport as international passenger traffic is expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels during the winter season, with the upgrades ...

Thailand Offers New Incentives to Attract Semiconductor and AI Hardware Investment to Eastern Economic Corridor

The Eastern Economic Corridor Office is introducing stronger incentives for advanced semiconductor and artificial intelligence hardware manufacturing, including support for research and development hubs, as Thailand seeks to attract tech...

Thailand Advances Second Phase of Digital Wallet Stimulus With Targeted Support for Vulnerable Groups

Thailand’s Finance Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council are directing the second phase of the digital wallet programme toward vulnerable groups and local economies after the first phase produced positive but ...

Thailand Commerce Ministry Maintains Export Optimism Despite Regional Industrial Pressures

The Commerce Ministry remains positive about export growth despite manufacturing pressures in the region and domestic industrial challenges linked to excess petroleum diesel supplies, while continuing efforts to diversify Thailand’s inte...

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Enters Thailand With Six Billion Baht Bangkok Revamp

Accor’s Fairmont Hotels and Resorts brand has officially entered Thailand following a six billion baht repositioning project in Bangkok, reflecting continued international interest in the country’s luxury hospitality market.

Thailand Tightens Shareholding Rules to Strengthen Capital Market Integrity

The Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced stricter rules on share ownership to prevent illicit funds and nominee structures from entering listed companies, with the measures aimed at improving transparency and investor confid...

Thailand Tourism Outlook Improves as High Season Approaches With Lower Airfares and Major Events

Tourism analysts expect international arrivals to decline less sharply than previously forecast, while lower airfares, airline promotions and major year-end gatherings, including meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank...

Thailand Orders Review of Data Centre Policies as Digital Infrastructure Investment Accelerates

The government has ordered a comprehensive review of national data centre policies and regulations as foreign technology investment expands rapidly, with authorities seeking to oversee the sector’s growth while ensuring sustainable energ...

Thailand Unveils Economic Plan to Navigate Global Trade, Technology and Demographic Shifts

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun presented a national blueprint developed by the public-private Joint Committee on Economic Problem Solving, focusing on four economic pillars as Thailand responds to geopolitical change, digital techn...

Thailand Reports 37 Percent Surge in Foreign Investment to 219 Billion Baht

Foreign direct investment reached 219 billion baht in the latest period, up 37 percent, according to the Board of Investment, as international business confidence strengthens and manufacturing investment continues to expand along Thailan...

Thailand GDP Grows 1.9 Percent in Second Quarter on Strong Investment and Goods Exports

Thailand’s economy expanded 1.9 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2026, supported by a 9.1 percent rise in total investment and a 17.6 percent increase in goods exports, prompting the National Economic and Social Development ...

A Sleepless Night on Wall Street: Nasdaq to Begin Nearly Round-the-Clock Trading

Nasdaq plans to add an overnight session from December, extending trading in U.S. shares to nearly 23 hours a day and moving closer to a 24/7 market.

Thailand’s New Businesses and Foreign Investment Shift Toward Technology and Green Industries

Department of Business Development data show growing investment in data centers, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and healthcare, reflecting a broader shift toward higher-value industries as Thailand seeks to strengthen its role...

Bank of Thailand Cuts 2026 Growth Forecast to 2 Percent as Exports and Stimulus Support Demand

The Bank of Thailand expects the economy to grow 2 percent this year, with consumer stimulus and export growth of 12 to 13 percent supporting activity despite a temporary rise in inflation linked to energy prices and government spending.

Thai Business Confidence Falls to 35-Month Low as Costs and Foreign Competition Weigh on Firms

Thailand’s business confidence index fell to its lowest level in 35 months in July as companies faced high operating costs, weak regional purchasing power and intensified competition from imported goods, prompting calls for stronger meas...

Thailand Appoints Chantanan Wannakhajorn as Permanent Secretary of Energy

The Thai Cabinet has appointed Chantanan Wannakhajorn as the Energy Ministry’s new Permanent Secretary as Thailand expands green power integration, electric vehicle infrastructure and electricity management for large data centers, placin...

Thailand Launches Southeast Asia’s Largest Digital Wholesale Platform for Food and Agricultural Products

Simummuang Online has officially launched as a major business-to-business marketplace connecting restaurants, retailers and food processors with agricultural and food ingredients, using digital procurement, logistics and payment systems ...

Thailand’s 2026 Car Sales Face Pressure as Chinese EV Imports Challenge Local Manufacturing

Thailand’s vehicle market is forecast to reach 675,000 sales in 2026, but surging Chinese electric vehicle imports and local production of only 45% are intensifying pressure on established manufacturers and supply chains, increasing call...

Fairmont Opens First Thailand Hotel With 474-Room Bangkok Property

Accor’s Fairmont Hotels and Resorts brand has entered Thailand with the opening of Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit, a 474-room luxury hotel developed with Asset World Corp that includes seven dining venues and a Leadership in Energy and Envir...

Thailand’s Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Investment Commitments Surpass $4.1 Billion

Thailand’s Board of Investment said 198 electric vehicle and clean energy projects have secured more than $4.1 billion in investment commitments, covering electric and hybrid vehicles, battery manufacturing and more than 22,000 charging ...

Foreign Business Investment Approvals in Thailand Jump 37% to 219 Billion Baht

Thailand approved 219 billion baht in foreign business investment during the first seven months of 2026, up 37% from a year earlier, with Singaporean, Japanese and Chinese investors accounting for much of the activity and 39% of approved...

Thailand’s Economy Grows 1.9% in Second Quarter as Investment and Exports Accelerate

Thailand’s gross domestic product expanded 1.9% in the second quarter, supported by a 13.4% rise in private investment and a 17.6% increase in goods exports, prompting the National Economic and Social Development Council to raise its mid...

Bangkok Business Summit 2026 Brings Government and Business Leaders Together to Shape Thailand’s Economic Strategy

The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 opened with senior government, financial and business leaders outlining plans to strengthen Thailand’s position as a global investment hub, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighting preparation...

Thai Teen Superstar Rocker Nene Royal Returns to Phuket Stage Before America’s Got Talent Live Shows

The amazing 16-year-old singer-guitarist performed again with her OZONE bandmates before returning to the United States, where she has secured a place in America’s Got Talent Season 21’s live rounds.

Khon Kaen Temple Land Dispute Escalates as 1985 Images Renew Fight Over Ownership

Historical imagery shows Wat Pa Adulyaram’s site was heavily forested four decades ago, while a group asserting ownership has now blocked an entrance and ordered property to be removed within 15 days.

Thailand Investigates 36,000 Foreign-Linked Companies Over Suspected Illegal Use of Thai Nominees

The Department of Business Development is investigating more than thirty-six thousand foreign-linked companies suspected of using Thai nominees to acquire real estate illegally, with particular attention on sixteen provinces including Ba...

Thailand Deploys Artificial Intelligence to Crack Down on Trade Transshipment and Origin Fraud

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is using an AI-enhanced system to monitor supply chains and verify manufacturing claims, expanding scrutiny to sixty-seven high-risk product categories as authorities prepare for trade talks with the United S...

Thailand Expands Suvarnabhumi Airport Automated Immigration Gates to Ease Passenger Congestion

Thai authorities are expanding automated immigration gates to serve thirty-three nationalities at Suvarnabhumi Airport as ministers push immediate operational improvements and longer-term upgrades, including the planned East Terminal, ah...

Thailand Updates Economic Indicators to Capture Growth in Advanced Electronics

Thailand’s economic planners are revising traditional manufacturing measures because existing statistics do not fully capture rapid expansion in electronics and semiconductor production, highlighting the growing importance of advanced te...

Thailand Shifts Tourism Policy Toward Higher-Spending International Visitors

Thai tourism authorities are moving beyond a volume-driven model by considering arrival fees to fund health insurance and infrastructure improvements aimed at attracting international visitors who spend more and stay longer.

Thailand Uses Automotive Tax Policy to Encourage Local Electric Vehicle Supply Chains

Thailand is using excise tax incentives to encourage automakers to manufacture electric vehicles domestically and source components from Thai suppliers as low-cost imported electric vehicles intensify competition in the regional market.

Foreign Investment in Digital Infrastructure Reshapes Thailand’s Growth Strategy

Thailand is attracting major investment from US and Chinese technology companies into hyperscale data centers, cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, accelerating the shift toward digital services and advanced techno...

Thai Airways Partners With Bumrungrad and VitalLife on Premium Wellness Services

Thai Airways has partnered with Bumrungrad International Hospital and VitalLife to add health and wellness services to premium cabin offerings, targeting international travelers seeking medical and wellness services in Thailand.

Udon Thani to Become Regional Medical Technology Hub for Mekong Patients

Thailand is developing Udon Thani as a medical technology and treatment center serving patients from neighboring Southeast Asian countries, expanding the country’s healthcare and medical tourism ambitions beyond Bangkok.

Huawei Introduces Grid-Stabilizing Solar Technology for Thailand’s AI Data Centers

Huawei has launched advanced grid-forming photovoltaic technology in Thailand to provide renewable power and grid stability for the growing electricity demands of cloud computing and artificial intelligence data centers.

Thailand Positions THECA Technology Exhibition as Regional Hub for AI and Smart Mobility

Thailand is promoting the upcoming THECA technology exhibition as a major platform for advanced electronics, artificial intelligence and smart mobility, with the government seeking new foreign investment and deeper integration into globa...

Thailand Advances Premium Tourism Strategy With Visitor Fee and Insurance Plan

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is developing a four hundred and fifty baht international arrival fee to help fund visitor health insurance and upgrades to cultural attractions as authorities seek to attract higher-value, longer-s...

Suvarnabhumi Airport to Expand Automated Immigration Gates to 31 More Nationalities

Thai immigration authorities plan to extend automated passport gates to thirty-one additional nationalities by the end of August, allowing an estimated fifty-three percent of international arrivals to use automated processing and easing ...

Thailand Moves to Modernize Manufacturing Data as Electronics and Semiconductor Output Surges

The National Economic and Social Development Council is rebasing the country’s factory output index to better capture rapid growth in advanced electronics, semiconductors and artificial intelligence components that is not adequately refl...

Thailand Overhauls Automotive Taxes to Support Local Electric Vehicle Production

Thailand’s Finance Ministry is preparing changes to automotive excise taxes that would favor manufacturers using domestic supply chains and producing electric vehicles locally, as the government seeks to protect the country’s position as...

US Technology Giants Drive $33 Billion Digital Investment Surge in Thailand

Digital projects accounted for most of Thailand’s first-half investment applications, led by Amazon Web Services’ $5 billion commitment to cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure as US technology companies expand their presence ...

Thai Private Investment and Exports Accelerate as First-Half Investment Applications Reach $43.6 Billion

Thailand recorded a thirteen point four percent increase in private investment and a seventeen point six percent rise in goods exports in the second quarter, while investment applications reached $43.6 billion in the first half as busine...

AI Manager at San Francisco Store Recommends Firing Human Employee

Luna, an autonomous AI running Andon Market, moved to dismiss a worker who was late for 17 of 23 shifts; human supervisors reviewed and carried out the termination.

Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy

Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy

The new Pixel phones start at $899 alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and Google's first Pixel Tag tracker, as Google turns its devices into an increasingly integrated platform for Gemini.

Thailand Issues Flood Warnings for 39 Provinces as Authorities Monitor Heavy Rain

Thailand’s disaster authorities have warned 39 provinces across the North, Northeast and Central regions to prepare for flash floods and runoff, making severe weather one of the most immediate nationwide risks highlighted by Thai Rath’s ...

Thailand Prime Minister to Lead 14 Companies on Australia and New Zealand Trade and Investment Mission

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is due to visit Australia and New Zealand from August 17 to 22 with executives from 14 major Thai companies, including PTT, Gulf, Central Group, CPF and SCG. The governments are expected to discuss trad...

Thailand Plans 534-Kilometre Southern Double-Track Railway to Strengthen Malaysia Trade Link

Thailand is advancing a second phase of southern double-track rail covering 534 kilometres from Chumphon through Surat Thani and Hat Yai to Padang Besar on the Malaysian border. The initial 504-kilometre construction phase is budgeted at...