Bangkok (VNA)♐ - The Commerce Ministry of Thailand has set up a task force to intensify market inspections of substandard products across the country.
Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang was quoted by local media as saying that all relevant agencies are scrutinising imported goods purchased online.
From September to December 2024, Thai authorities took legal action in 21,227 cases, with damages tallying 1.14 billion THB (33.82 million USD). Confiscated items included supplements, food, medicines, medical equipment, cosmetics, electrical appliances and power banks.
He said medium- and long-term action plans call for agencies to increase the frequency and intensity of inspections.
The third meeting of the Subcommittee on Promoting Thai SMEs and Addressing Low-Quality Imported Goods agreed on establishing the task force to investigate substandard imported goods and businesses that are violating foreign ownership laws nationwide.
The meeting also reviewed proposals from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) in four areas: product standards and business operations, trade measures, customs and import channels, and domestic investment promotion.
The FTI has urged the government to step up enforcement of product labelling laws and regulate e-commerce platforms while supporting domestic manufacturers. The federation recommends improving access to countermeasures and reviewing tariff rates to strengthen the oversight of imported goods.
Furthermore, the Thai Government should foster domestic investment through tax incentives, procurement advantages and market expansion opportunities, said the FTI.
Napintorn said these recommendations would be presented to the main committee for further action.
Meanwhile, he said businesses should prepare for possible labelling requirements, as the Office of the Consumer Protection Board is assessing strategies to ensure consumer safety while considering the impact on businesses.
Efforts to collaborate with online platforms have begun to enhance quality control for products sold online, said the official./.
Thailand's Ministry of Finance is mulling amending tax laws on income from foreign investments to create a more favourable environment for investors and lure Thais to repatriate their earnings.
The Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society said it is cooperating with over 300 agencies to eradicate fake news while looking to use articial intelligence (AI) to verify news reports.
The company expects to cut or transfer about 1,000 jobs in Thailand and stated that reducing operating expenses by around 400 billion JPY (2.62 billion USD) in the 2026 fiscal year will help maintain a stable operating profit margin of 4%.
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.
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.
