National
Thailand’s GDP to drop by 1% if political crisis drags on
Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) will shrink by 1 per cent if the current political crisis drags on, according to a top banker.
Boontuck Wangcharoen, chief executive officer of TMB Bank (formerly the Thai Military Bank), said the ongoing rally by the anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) at the downtown Ratchaprasong intersection had little impact on its loan portfolio because the number of bank clients operating businesses in the area is rather small.
via GDP growth to drop by 1% if political crisis drags on, says banker.
Key risks to the outlook are (i) political uncertainty and (ii) the timing of the withdrawal of fiscal and monetary stimulus. Increased political tensions may have a long-lasting impact on investment, and withdrawal of stimulus (in Thailand and the advanced economies) must be precisely timed to avoid macroeconomic imbalances (including new asset bubbles) while also ensuring that the recovery is on a sufficiently solid footing.
Long-term growth will require improving productivity and greater focus on distributional issues. Imbalances present before the crisis remain, but the crisis has increased the urgency of reforms to improve productivity, enhance competitiveness, and promote more equitable growth. Openness to trade and investment have been – and will continue to be – essential to Thailand’s long-term growth. However, a return to high growth will require boosting domestic consumption and developing additional sources of external demand.
National
Thailand blocks online gambling websites
In the past week, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has asked all internet service providers and mobile carriers to block access to online gambling websites.
National
Covid-19: Thailand reports 10 weeks without local transmission
According to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Thailand has recorded zero new locally-contracted cases for 10 weeks.
National
Thailand allows pubs, bars and massage parlors to reopen
The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved the fifth phase of lockdown easing, allowing most daily activities and businesses to resume

BANGKOK (NNT) – Although the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) extended enforcement of the emergency decree for another month to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCSA today approved the fifth phase of lockdown easing, allowing most daily activities and businesses to resume.
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