Goods are loaded at a port in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA)𓂃 – Thailand’sexports will recover next year while inflation will stay within its target rangeof 1-3%, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT).
The freshly-announced minutes of theBoT’s November 29 monetary policy meeting showed that while Thailand’seconomic recovery remains on course, structural issues might limit the positiveinfluence of the global economy on exports and credit quality must be monitored,reported the Bangkok Post. The BoT noted that financial conditions have become morestringent, prompting increased scrutiny of the credit quality for smallbusinesses and household sectors. At the meeting, the MonetaryPolicy Committee (MPC) unanimously voted to keep its one-day repurchaseinterest rate unchanged at 2.5%, the highest in a decade, after hiking it by200 basis points since August last year to curb inflation. Thailand's economy grew much lowerthan expected, at 1.5% in the July-September quarter from a year earlier, theslowest pace this year, on weak exports and government spending. The BoT will next review policyrates on February 7, 2024. It forecast headline inflation to average 1.3%this year, down from 1.6% projected earlier. The BoT predicted 2024 inflation will stand at 2.0%but this will not factor in the potential impact of the government’s500-billion-THB (13.9 billion USD) digital wallet stimulus programme. Separately, BoT officials predicted that tourist arrivals will return to pre-pandemic levels by late 2025, drivenby non-Chinese visitors. The central bank has revised its forecast of Chinesearrivals in 2024 to 6.2 million from 7.5 million predicted earlier. In 2025,the central bank expects 7.8 million travellers from China - still belowthe nearly 11 million recorded in 2019, when the country welcomed a record 40million foreign arrivals in total./.
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) forecasted that the country’s economy, particularly exports, will be driven by high-potential industries such as agriculture, food, cars and auto parts, as well as bio- circular and green (BCG) manufacturing.
Thailand will apply automatic channels for passport checks for out-bound foreign passengers at Bangkok-based Suvarnabhumi Airport from December 15 in order to reduce congestion at the country’s busiest airport.
The Thai cabinet on December 12 approved the extension of the 30-day visa-free entry for Japanese tourists with business visits, helping facilitate investment.
Thailand's Digital Economy and Society Ministry has announced that any telephone number with more than 100 calls per day will be suspended in a bid to combat call scams.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Goods are loaded at a port in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
