Thai Times

Covering the Thai Renaissance
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025

Bangkok to Ban Large Polluting Trucks Amid Air Quality Concerns; Thailand's Major Economic and Tech Initiatives Unfold

Bangkok to ban polluting trucks during high PM2.5 levels; Equinix announces a 16 billion baht investment to boost Thailand's digital infrastructure.
In an effort to tackle hazardous air pollution, Bangkok is set to temporarily ban polluting trucks with six or more wheels in nine districts during periods when PM2.5 levels exceed 75 µg/m³, announced by Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, this initiative will take effect next year during the cooler season.

Moving from Bangkok to Pattaya, a South Korean man, known only as 'Hun', was arrested without valid documents; he had illegally entered Thailand from Cambodia and is suspected of drug trafficking, marking his return after being deported in 2017 for crystal meth offenses.

Meanwhile, in the bustling Thai coffee market, Starbucks Thailand plans to expand with 30 new stores annually despite the competitive landscape and high household debt, aiming to lead the coffee scene with an additional five outlets by the year's end.

On a more celebratory note, Central Pattana has announced a 700 million baht investment with the 'World's Great Celebration 2025' campaign, working alongside various partners to enhance Thai tourism and boost the nation's global standing.

In the tech sector, Equinix is set to invest 16 billion baht over the next decade to develop data centres in Thailand, supporting the country’s ambition to become a digital hub for the CLMVT region, with a phase one investment of 7.1 billion baht commencing by 2027.

Lastly, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is pushing for legal reforms to remove barriers to trade, following a report from the JSCCIB, which highlights that dated laws are causing significant economic losses, leading the government to consider measures to stimulate economic growth and support SMEs.
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