• BUSINESS

  Returning to reform

  Business, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 20/04/2012

  » Wuey Tong hasn't been back to his hometown of Dawei since arriving in Thailand 13 years ago as an unemployed teenager.

• BUSINESS

  Tourism and the China Syndrome

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 29/12/2014

  » Take a stroll through Bangkok or any other Asian city these days, and it won't be long before you bump into a Chinese tourist or a group of them. They're everywhere in Thailand, thanks in large part to the waiver of the 1,000-baht visa fee for Chinese and Taiwanese citizens.

• BUSINESS

  Scaling political mountains

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 25/07/2016

  » Park Won-soon is no stranger to Thailand, which he visited 10 times before taking office in 2011 as the highly popular mayor of Seoul. He even has business cards with his name and position written in Thai, a small touch but an example of how he likes to relate to people in the other countries he visits.

• BUSINESS

  Remember why we smile

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 01/08/2016

  » Recently, I was honoured to interview Park Won-soon, the mayor of Seoul, who kindly reminded me about Thailand's world-renowned hospitality. A frequent visitor to our country, Mr Park told me, "The smile is the best product of Thailand." His remark got me thinking about how many people seem to have forgotten how "The Land of Smiles" earned its reputation.

• OPINION

  Trump, Xi and the new reality

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 10/04/2017

  » Last week, all eyes in Asia were on the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. A lot was riding on the two-day summit between the leaders of the world's two largest economies, whose relationship has been rocky of late. The world is looking for reassurances, and perhaps even some common ground on North Korea, which has become an irritant for both Beijing and Washington.

• BUSINESS

  Asia's week in the spotlight

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 13/11/2017

  » It was an eventful time for many Asian economies last week. Of course, the most talked about development was the 12-day Asian tour by Donald Trump to five countries -- his first to the region since he took office in January and the longest by a sitting US president so far this millennium.

• OPINION

  China's sexist tech titans

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 30/04/2018

  » The news that Alibaba is pouring US$320 billion into developing a "digital hub" in the much-touted Eastern Economic Corridor has not been greeted with universal applause in Thailand. Concerns are rising about the potential negative impacts on small local operators once the Chinese e-commerce giant cements its foothold.

• BUSINESS

  Taste of Taiwan

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 12/11/2018

  » Nam Linh, a professional MC from Hanoi, has made it his life's goal to visit one foreign country each year. He added Taiwan to his list in mid-October. South Korea was his first overseas experience when he want there as an exchange student at age 15. Since then he has travelled to Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and last year to China.

• BUSINESS

  Virus responses compared

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 09/03/2020

  » The world is in a state of panic right now. Every minute brings more bad news about the Covid-19 outbreak that has caused more than 3,300 deaths as of Friday. For many, the more information they consume -- whether it is factual or not -- the higher the possibility they will live in fear.

• BUSINESS

  Travel turmoil

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 18/05/2020

  » Famous for its resilience in the face of several crises in the past, the travel and tourism industry is now facing the toughest test it has ever encountered in the Covid-19 outbreak.

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