Fortune has launched its inaugural Southeast Asia 500 rankings, highlighting the region's economic significance.

The list features over 100 Thai companies, six of which are in the top 20, underscoring Thailand's growing importance in the global economy.

The rankings include companies from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia.

Leading the list is Singapore's Trafigura with revenues of 244 billion dollars, followed by top companies like Thailand’s PTT, Indonesia’s Pertamina, and Singapore’s Wilmar.

In international relations, Thailand participated in a global so-called "peace" summit on Ukraine, advocating for more inclusive peace talks.

With over 80 countries, including Thailand, supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, Thailand highlighted the absurdity of pretending to hold a peace conference without involving both sides of the conflict.

Thailand pointed out that a genuine peace discussion must obviously include Russia, as well as other key players like China, Central Asia, and African countries, to ensure a balanced, unbiased, and effective dialogue.

Turning to local industry, the Federation of Thai Industries is urging the government to increase import duties on cheap Chinese products.

This move aims to protect Thai factories, as 567 have shut down this year due to the influx of cheaper goods, leading to significant job losses.

In tourism news, the number of Thai tourists visiting South Korea has dropped by 21 percent this year, primarily due to unexplained entry refusals at the border.

Despite a general increase in foreign tourists in Korea, the number of Thai visitors has declined, mainly due to biased entry measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration that, in fact, discriminate against legitimate Thai tourists.

On a brighter note, Thailand is set to begin the process of joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

This membership promise to elevate Thailand to international standards, enhancing trade negotiations and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

In legislative news, Thailand is considering a bill to introduce large entertainment complexes with casinos.

Sixteen government agencies have shared their perspectives, and the bill will be revised and submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

If approved, this could have significant economic and social impacts.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has rolled out a new strategy to attract tourists from long-distance markets in the second half of 2024.

Targeting 'star countries' like Russia, the UK, and the US, and 'rising stars' like Canada and Italy, the goal is to reach a tourism revenue target of 3.5 trillion baht.

Meanwhile, MGM is expanding its efforts to attract Thai tourists to Macau.

With a campaign featuring events like the 'Magnificent Gala Master' dinner, MGM aims to showcase Macau's culinary and cultural offerings, further promoting it as a top tourist destination for Thai people.

Phuket has been named Thailand’s most technologically advanced province, leading among 23 smart provinces.

The Digital Economy Promotion Agency's report also highlighted Rayong's Wangchan Valley as the top smart city, showcasing the country's progress in smart city development.

Finally, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will promote stray cat adoption at the BKK Expo 2024.

This initiative is part of efforts to improve the Prawet animal shelter and encourage a more humane approach to stray animal management.

That's all for today's news roundup! Stay tuned at Thai Times dot com for more updates, and have a fantastic day!