Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Who’s afraid of peer-to-peer lending?
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 29/11/2018
» The recent announcement by the Bank of Thailand on peer-to-peer (P2P) lending rules represents a significant paradigm shift. If all goes to plan, by early next year Thailand will be among the few Asian countries, most notably China and Indonesia, to legalise this match-making platform between lenders and borrowers.
China's rise as a global tech leader
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 15/11/2017
» All eyes are on China as it emerges as a new global leader in technology. Startups are sprouting up in Shanghai and Shenzhen with most successful ones going public at staggering IPO prices.
All that glitters in CLMV markets is not gold
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 22/06/2016
» At the annual SCB EIC Conference held earlier this month, I mentioned the exuberant growth of our neighbours: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) as a catalyst for service businesses in Thailand. Recently, our government has also initiated a business council among CLMV and Thailand to facilitate information sharing and troubleshoot trade and investment challenges facing private investors. This is a good effort to find a new source of growth to revitalise the Thai economy.
Thailand must prepare for challenges ahead
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 18/05/2016
» In February, I discussed, with cautious optimism, the reality of our transport megaprojects and the sizeable impact on businesses. In particular, the service sector would subsequently flourish. As urbanisation accelerates from better connectivity, property and retail developments will quickly follow. Tourism businesses will expand to these new urban cities. Relatively new service businesses, such as transport maintenance, would be established in key junctions and pit-stops, as trains, planes and ships multiply.
Megaprojects provide stimulus and long-term gains
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 17/02/2016
» The volatility in global financial markets has recently picked up again on the back of a series of mediocre economic data across the globe. Poor results for Thai exports in 2015 could very well extend further, putting a spotlight on the need for public investment more than ever. Without a doubt, the cabinet will be called upon to churn out the public infrastructure projects as promised.
Mega-investment is no longer a choice
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 27/01/2016
» As the year of the monkey kicks off, anxiety abounds. For the first time in nearly half a century, no single economic power enjoys bullish prospects. In the 1980s, Japan was at the height of its "miracle" with record salaries and employment. In the 1990s, the United States rode the success of rapid technological change that created waves of new jobs as well as the dot com bubble. At the turn of the millennium, the European Union was exuberant with the promise of growth driven by a streamlined internal market and single currency. Then China's accession to the World Trade Organisation helped it re-emerge as one of the world's great economic powers, marching briskly forward even during the global financial crisis of 2008. Today, there is no comparable big winner.
Connecting with Thai 'Gen Y' consumers
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 19/11/2014
» It is quite unique for Thailand to be caught in the middle of two demographic megatrends.
Time to refocus our exporting strengths
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 17/09/2014
» Thailand's exports have suffered such a great fall. Our performance has been disappointing since 2012. We at the SCB Economic Intelligence Centre (EIC) expect total exports for 2014 to grow by around 1% yearly.
Unravelling the political Gordian Knot
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 16/04/2014
» Thai politics is no longer the art of the possible. Thailand has been without a fully functioning government for more than four months. Political unrest and legal maneuverings have intensified and complicated the conflict such that it now seems impossible to reach a viable solution.
Rebalancing China is possible, but at what cost?
News, Sutapa Amornvivat, Published on 19/02/2014
» In November, China’s new leaders spelled out the reform agenda, which is a key product of the so-called Third Plenum. The stated reforms are extensive, comprising some 21,500 words; the objective is to put China in the A-league. Specifically, China aims to double its GDP per capita by 2020 — securing its status as the world’s largest economy, just before the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2021.