Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand’s authorities have warned that the drought situation is getting worse and the country needs to implement practical water resources management programmes within the next four months in order to avoid unpredictable consequences.
☂ Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chatchai Sarikulya said water supply is still sufficient for people in the delta region of Chao Phraya River and Mekong River until the end of July. However, only five out of 21 million hectares of farming land in the country have enough water for irrigation.
The Royal Irrigation Department of Thailand has called on all economic sectors to save water, in an attempt to ensure water sufficiency by the end of July, in anticipation of a late rainy season, which normally comes in May.
Thailand's Interior Ministry has placed 15 provinces on alert because of the drought, while closely monitoring the situation in another 42 provinces nationwide.
The country has also begun constructing water pumping stations, to deliver water from the Mekong River to dams and channel systems.
The Royal Irrigation Department said 47.4 million cubic meters of water is expected to be redirected over three months from temporary pumps.
ꦏ The Thai government is planning to spend 1.8 billion USD on water resource management in order to ensure sufficient water for agriculture and the daily use of people in the future.-VNA
Thailand is researching the feasibility of the Mekong-Loei-Chi-Mun project, which aims to build a tunnel diverting water from the Loei River, a branch of the Mekong River, to the Northeast region.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) of Thailand has urged industrial producers to cut water consumption amid the intensifying drought.
The water level of the Mekong River in Thailand’s northeast province of Nong Khai rose to 1.8 metres on March 19, a 27-cm rise after China released water upriver, a Thai irrigation department official
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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.
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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.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
Illustrative Image (Source :sott.net)
