Thai Times

China’s Kimi Launches AI-Focused Credit Card With Agricultural Bank of China and American Express

The July launch links credit-card spending and rewards to Kimi memberships and AI computing benefits, although some claims about conversational banking functions go beyond what the companies’ official materials currently confirm.

Thailand’s 2026 Advertising Market Set to Stay Flat as Brands Shift Spending to Digital Commerce

Media Intelligence Group expects Thailand’s advertising expenditure to remain around 86.2 billion baht in 2026 as brands redirect spending from traditional media toward digital commerce, with artificial intelligence search tools and digi...

Honda Thailand Launches 619,000-Baht Hybrid as Japanese Automakers Face Chinese EV Competition

Honda Automobile Thailand has introduced a new entry-level hybrid priced at 619,000 baht as part of its 2026 lineup, using aggressive pricing to defend its position in Thailand’s city-car market as heavily discounted Chinese electric veh...

Thailand Ends 1,500-Baht Import Tax Exemption as Social Security Wage Ceiling Rises

Thailand has abolished the value-added tax exemption for imported e-commerce goods priced below 1,500 baht, requiring tax collection from the first baht to protect domestic retailers, while raising the Social Security wage ceiling to 17,...

Thailand Raises Rail and Port Infrastructure Budgets to Strengthen Flood Protection

The State Railway of Thailand has increased infrastructure investment budgets to incorporate stronger flood-mitigation measures into planned rail and port projects, with the changes aimed at improving the resilience of key transport and ...

Bangkok Luxury Condominiums Hold Up Despite Broader Property Market Slowdown

Premium condominium developers in Bangkok are reporting continued demand and relatively stable prices, supported by interest from high-net-worth investors and international buyers even as the wider domestic real estate market goes throug...

Thailand Digital Sector Gains Confidence as Corporate AI Demand Surges

Business sentiment in Thailand’s digital and technology sectors has strengthened as domestic companies increase spending on artificial intelligence integration, even as businesses continue to face higher global energy costs.

Thai Government Pension Fund Shifts Investments Toward AI Growth and Thai Equities

Thailand’s Government Pension Fund has adjusted its investment portfolio to support artificial intelligence expansion and position itself for a projected recovery in Thai equities, reflecting increased institutional confidence in the cou...

Thailand Prepares Rooftop Solar Subsidies as Clean Energy Investment Gains Momentum

Thailand’s Finance Ministry is preparing household subsidies for rooftop solar installations as part of an effort to reduce fossil-fuel imports, support domestic installation networks and bring down electricity costs for consumers.

Thai Airways to Resume Direct Bangkok-Xiamen Flights in October

Thai Airways International will resume direct flights between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport from late October 2026, using new narrow-body Airbus aircraft to expand capacity on a secondary Chinese r...

Thailand’s Prime Minister Pledges Tougher Gun Laws After Nonthaburi School Shooting

Thailand’s prime minister has pledged sweeping new gun-control legislation and tighter rules governing self-defense firearms after a school shooting in Nonthaburi left eight people dead, with the government seeking to strengthen public s...

Thailand Plans 50 Billion to 60 Billion Baht Rooftop Solar Subsidy Programme

Thailand’s Finance Ministry is finalising a clean-energy programme offering households subsidies of up to 50,000 baht for rooftop solar installations, using a planned budget of 50 billion to 60 billion baht to reduce reliance on imported...

Thailand Approves 750 Billion Baht in Data Center Projects as Government Tightens Investment Screening

Thailand’s Board of Investment has approved forty-two data center projects worth 750 billion baht between 2024 and 2026, while a new four-pillar screening framework will assess future projects on national benefits, energy security, water...

Taiwan Extends Visa Exemption for Thai Tourists as Bangkok Airport Enforces Dining Price Controls

Taiwan prolongs 14-day visa-free access through July 2027 while Airports of Thailand mandates capped food pricing and 50-baht combo meals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Thailand Advances Tech and Sustainability Goals with First Lunar Payload, AI Leadership, and Carbon Capture Pilot

New national initiatives highlight Thailand's accelerating technological capabilities, featuring an indigenous lunar space payload, world-leading workplace AI adoption, and a joint Canadian cement carbon capture project.

Donald Trump Warns FIFA Against Ousting Gianni Infantino Amid Revolt by Global Football Leaders

The U.S. President publicly defended the embattled FIFA chief as major continental confederations demand accountability following a failed attempt to privatize World Cup commercial rights.

Rent-to-Own Housing Schemes Gain Attention Among Younger Thai Buyers Facing High Property Prices

Alternative housing finance models such as rent-to-own arrangements are attracting interest among younger Thai consumers as rising property prices make conventional home purchases more difficult.

Mekong River Commission Issues Flood Warnings for Thailand’s Northeastern Border Provinces

Rapidly rising upstream water levels after intense monsoon rains have prompted flood alerts in Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan, with provincial authorities preparing evacuations in low-lying agricultural areas and taking measures to protect c...

Thai Authorities Examine Foreign Business Networks Under Bangkok’s ‘Huai Khwang Model’

Investigators examining commercial networks in Bangkok’s inner districts have raised concerns over foreign capital, non-Thai management structures and the use of undocumented foreign workers, prompting renewed calls for tighter oversight...

Thailand Moves to Tighten Firearm Controls Under Proposed Firearms Act Revisions

Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn has asked the Department of Provincial Administration and the Council of State to develop sweeping revisions to Thailand’s Firearms Act, with the proposed rules aimed at strengthening controls from weapon pur...

Thailand Marks Queen Sirikit’s Birthday Anniversary With Royal Ceremonies at the Grand Palace

Thailand held royal merit-making ceremonies at Bangkok’s Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha on August twelve to mark the birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, highlighting the country’s cultural h...

Thailand’s Stock Market Shows Resilience as Corporate Earnings Hold Up Amid Regional Volatility

The Stock Exchange of Thailand has remained relatively resilient in mid-August trading, with brokerages pointing to strong earnings in the petroleum and manufacturing sectors alongside continued foreign investment into the Eastern Econom...

Thai Airways to Resume Direct Bangkok-Xiamen Flights in October

Thai Airways will restore direct service between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Xiamen in China’s Fujian province in October, using newly delivered narrow-body aircraft to serve business and tourism demand ahead of the winter travel ...

Thailand Extends Investment Incentives Through 2027 to Support Advanced Manufacturing and Green Technology

The Thailand Board of Investment has extended key investment promotion measures through 2027, with new projects required to adopt green technologies as the country pushes its automotive and industrial sectors toward higher-value manufact...

Thailand to Accelerate State Enterprise Investment in Transport, Energy and Digital Infrastructure

Thailand’s State Enterprise Policy Office plans to speed up investment by public enterprises across transport, energy and digital infrastructure as Bangkok prepares to host more than fifteen thousand delegates for the October Internation...

Thai Private Sector Raises 2026 Growth and Export Forecasts on Artificial Intelligence Demand

Thailand’s leading private-sector business committee has raised its annual export growth forecast to ten percent and upgraded its gross domestic product outlook, citing a forty-five percent surge in technology and electronic component sh...

Thailand Fast-Tracks More Than Seven Billion Dollars in Strategic Digital and Technology Investments

The Thailand Board of Investment has approved more than seven point five billion United States dollars in promoted investments, including eleven artificial intelligence data center projects in Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor, t...

Thai University Unveils Low-Cost CAR-T Therapy Achieving 90 Percent Cancer Remission

Prince of Songkla University develops indigenous immunotherapy cutting treatment costs tenfold while achieving complete remission in advanced blood cancers and autoimmune cases.

Bangkok Bank and Business Leaders Push Deeper Thailand-Vietnam Trade and Investment Links

Bangkok Bank joined regional business leaders at the Thailand-Vietnam Business Forum to promote stronger supply-chain integration, cross-border trade corridors, digital payment interoperability and investment in sustainable manufacturing...

PTT Global Chemical Targets More Specialty Chemicals as Second-Quarter EBITDA Reaches 26.9 Billion Baht

PTT Global Chemical reported adjusted EBITDA of 26.9 billion baht for the second quarter and plans to shift its portfolio toward specialty chemicals, targeting a 70-to-30 commodity-to-specialty mix by 2030 as part of its Map Ta Phut tran...

Central Retail Acquires 30 MaxValu Stores to Expand Thailand Supermarket Footprint

Central Retail Corporation has acquired 30 MaxValu branches in Thailand, strengthening its position in the domestic supermarket market as retailers compete for recovering urban consumer spending and seek growth in higher-margin grocery s...

Thailand Opens Nationwide Corruption Probe After More Than 300 Million Baht in Sisaket Irregularities

The Department of Special Investigation is examining suspected financial misconduct involving municipal accounts in Sisaket province, while parliamentary anti-corruption committees monitor a broader inquiry into procurement practices and...

Thailand Tightens Nationwide Security Measures With Weapon Checkpoints and Special Task Forces

The Interior Ministry and national security agencies are stepping up action against illegal firearms trafficking and underground networks following recent public safety incidents, with authorities seeking to strengthen public confidence ...

Thailand Launches 4.4 Billion Baht Village Fund Initiative to Boost Household Liquidity and Local Spending

The government’s “Thai Help Thai” program will provide half-price interest financing through village funds, with Prime Minister-led economic teams seeking to ease local debt pressures and strengthen purchasing power and small businesses.

Thailand and Indonesia Set $20 Billion Trade Target Under New Strategic Partnership Roadmap

Thailand and Indonesia agreed on a 2026-to-2030 partnership plan during the first visit by a Thai prime minister to Jakarta in 15 years, with new direct air links also planned between Bangkok, Jakarta, Denpasar and Phuket.

Thailand Capital Markets Group Raises Year-End SET Index Target to 1,700 Points

The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations lifted its year-end benchmark forecast, citing expectations for resilient corporate earnings, supply-chain relocation and faster investment linked to artificial intelligence.

Thailand Approves 1.4 Trillion Baht of Investment Applications in First Half, Led by Digital and Electronics

The Thailand Board of Investment says first-half applications exceeded the full-year record set last year, with data centers, advanced electronics, printed circuit boards and digital infrastructure attracting much of the new investment.

Thailand Draws Record Foreign Investment Interest as Stock Market Turnover Surges

Foreign investors bought a net 48.9 billion baht of Thai equities in July, extending a three-month buying streak as average daily market turnover more than doubled year on year to 87.4 billion baht.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino Denies Affair Allegation as UEFA Confirms Payment to Former Employee

UEFA says a departure payment and MBA fees complied with staff rules then in force, while Infantino faces a separate governance revolt over his abandoned plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s World Cup business.

Thailand Launches Tech Forces Program to Train 25,000 Soldiers in Digital Skills

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Ministry of Defense will begin training 25,000 conscripts and volunteer soldiers in digital literacy and cybersecurity from September 2026, with the program designed to strengthen cyber...

Thailand and Myanmar Plan New Trade Talks to Reduce Border Barriers

Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade is preparing a Joint Trade Committee meeting with Myanmar later this year after bilateral trade reached 244 billion baht in 2025, with cross-border and transit commerce accounting for 81% of the total.

Thailand Expands Direct Flights From Indonesia to Boost Tourism in 2026

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has partnered with TransNusa Airlines and Traveloka to launch new Jakarta–Bangkok and Bali–Phuket services, adding more than 130,000 seats a year and targeting more than 890,000 Indonesian visitors by th...

Russia’s A7 Builds a State-Linked Payments Network Beyond Western Sanctions

The two-year-old platform says it handles almost one-fifth of Russia’s foreign-trade payments, while Western governments accuse it of helping Moscow bypass financial restrictions through crypto and opaque settlement channels.

Thailand’s Regional Cultural Festivals Drive Strong Tourism and Local Economic Activity

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and provincial authorities reported strong visitor turnout and increased local revenue from cultural and soft power festivals, including milestone celebrations in Phatthalung, supporting efforts to sprea...

Thailand Draws More Than One Trillion Baht in Foreign Investment Applications as AI Data Centers Expand

The Board of Investment reported that foreign direct investment applications have surpassed one trillion baht, driven largely by multinational technology companies investing in hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers and cloud in...