Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
5G at the heart of Thailand's future
Business, Janine Phakdeetham, Published on 19/10/2021
» 5G technology is turning Thailand around with the value of 5G-driven business and services expected to hit 650 billion baht by 2030, and the ultrafast internet service playing an instrumental role in the push for S-curve industries in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) area, say key figures in state and private sectors.
Economic recovery in motion
News, Mongkol Bangprapa, Published on 08/10/2021
» Thailand's plan to attract 1 million quality tourists by the first quarter of next year is to serve as a key blueprint to drive the economic recovery after almost two years of being hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Be careful of the turning tide
Business, Piyasak Manason, Published on 09/09/2020
» As we expected, the global and Thai economies have reached low points not seen in decades and have begun to recover gradually in recent weeks. But in terms of investing, we are beginning to see a significant shift in the theme.
Fresh virus spikes give investors pause
Business, Published on 22/02/2020
» Recap: Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended lower yesterday, with Indonesia losing the most and Thailand the sole gainer, as a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases dented the appeal of riskier assets.
New ministry takes on human factor
Business, Chatrudee Theparat, Published on 07/11/2019
» Suvit Maesincee is the first minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the new ministry established as part of the previous government's bureaucratic reforms.
Huawei banking on Thai market
Business, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 23/10/2019
» Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, is considering Thailand as its main market for 5G ecosystem development and use in Southeast Asia, says its senior executive.
Year of turbulence
Asia focus, Published on 31/12/2018
» Two unpredictable men with weird haircuts and access to nuclear weapons had a friendly chat in Singapore -- and that was just one of the many noteworthy stories of 2018. Elsewhere in Asia, we witnessed some surprising political developments (Malaysia) and not-so-surprising ones (Cambodia), along with what seemed to be a disturbingly high number of natural disasters. Many see the latter as a manifestation of the growing impact of climate change, and it's a debate that is bound to intensify in the year ahead. Below, Asia Focus looks back on the eventful year now ending.
'I am confident about 2017'
Business, Chatrudee Theparat, Published on 09/01/2017
» The military government brought in Somkid Jatusripitak to lead the regime's economic team in 2015, as the country was struggling with internal politics and global economic downturn.