Bangkok (VNA) - The Digital Economy Promotion Agency of Thailand (DEPA) is set to promote tax incentive measures to encourage individuals to upskill themselves in the field of digital knowledge.
Individuals who take DEPA-certified digital courses or train with its certified partner networks will be able to deduct 100% of their registration fees for digital courses from their personal income tax up to a total of 100,000 THB (2,920 USD).
DEPA is working with the Revenue Department to introduce this new tax incentive for individuals in 2025, effective for a period of five years.
Its President Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin said the agency hopes all 10 million taxpayers will enjoy this benefit.
The agency has already promoted similar tax incentives to encourage companies to upskill employees in terms of digital knowledge as part of its policy of bolstering the country's competitiveness by developing a digital workforce for the future.
Businesses that send employees for training on DEPA-certified digital courses or to train with members of its certified partner network can deduct 250% of the training expenses from their corporate income tax.
They can also deduct 150% of the first 12 months' salary of their staff who are new graduates in digital fields from their corporate income tax.
Nuttapon said DEPA is accelerating its efforts to promote Thailand's digital workforce through its digital skills roadmap, aiming to enhance digital knowledge and skills for all Thai citizens.
The DEPA 2025 digital skills roadmap focuses on preparing individuals for new careers in nine emerging industries, including gaming, animation, and digital farming, and promoting advanced digital skills in the professions in which Thailand currently faces a labour shortage such as data and artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain engineering, 5G, quantum computing, and cloud innovation.
📖 The agency aims to provide basic digital literacy to 1 million people via an online channel. It also wants to provide training on skills pertaining to the nine future careers to 80,000 graduates in the workforce, and six digital skills to 20,000 people./.
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has approved investment support for two large data centre projects in the country worth over 60 billion THB (1.7 billion USD).
Thailand is positioning itself as an emerging leader in artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and development, thanks to policies that support an approach that balances technological innovation with ethical considerations and workforce protection.
Thailand will roll out a new biometric identification system across its six major airports, aiming to provide passengers with a more efficient and convenient travel experience, the Airport of Thailand (AOT) has announced.
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.
