At a garment factory in Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s parliament on May 31 passed astimulus package worth 1.9 trillion THB (58 billion USD) to ease the impact ofCOVID-19.
The legislation, comprising three bills, includes a governmentplan to borrow 1 trillion THB and central bank measures worth another 900billion THB in soft loans and support for corporate bonds.
Of the 1 trillion THB of borrowing, 600 billion THB will be forpublic heath works and relief measures, and the rest for rebuilding the economyand job creation.
The bills must next be approved by the upper house Senate, whichis expected to convene in early June, before they can become law.
The latest steps follow billions of dollars of stimulus measuresintroduced earlier this year to cope with the impact of the coronavirus on theThai economy, which is heading into a recession.
Thailand began to gradually ease some restrictions introduced tocontain the virus in early May. More businesses classified as medium to highrisks, including cinemas and gyms, will be allowed to reopen on June 1.
Thailand’s central bank has said it expects the economy to sharplycontract this year as the pandemic hit businesses and households.
Meanwhile, the Thai National Economic and Social DevelopmentCouncil said 8.4 million people are at risk of losing their jobs this year dueto the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tourism sector being most badly affected.
It estimated that the fall in the number of foreign and domestictourists could mean 2.5 million people, or 64 percent of the approximately 3.9million workers in the tourism sector, could become unemployed.
It said in a report that 1.5 million, or 25 percent of the 5.9 million personindustrial workforce, also could be laid off due to the coronavirus crisisreducing demand that was already weakened by trade wars.
The jobs of 4.4 million people, or 43 percent of 10.3 million people working inthe service sector outside of tourism, are also at risk./.
Thailand is conducting tests on macaque monkeys as it races to produce a cheaper, alternative COVID-19 vaccine that it hopes will be ready by 2021, a top researcher said May 25.
Medical staff from Sangkhla Buri Hospital in Kanchanaburi have set up a mobile hospital unit in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, bringing medical services closer to remote communities, while promoting COVID-19 precautionary measures among villagers.
Thailand’s cabinet has agreed to set up a committee to consider whether the country should sign up to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), amid widespread concerns about its harmful effects on the agriculture industry.
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.
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.
At a garment factory in Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
