Thailand pledges to support Indo-Pacific regional security enhancement

Thailand is strategically located in the Indo-Pacific region, and the army is ready to tackle newer security threats, particularly cybersecurity threats, which requires the cooperation of other partner countries.

Published

1 year ago

September 11, 2019

National News Bureau of Thailand

BANGKOK, 11 September 2019(NNT) – The Thai government has pledged its support for regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, with external parties working to solve conflicts and preparing to handle security threats, particularly cybersecurity threats.

At the 11th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference held on 9th-11th September to promote sustainable security and a new vision for armies in the Indo-Pacific region, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said the event is an open stage for military leaders of all levels to promote security and enhance protection against newer, more complex security threats.

He said the Indo-Pacific armies have show their capacity to prevent and solve issues, as well as creating strategic friendships between Indo-Pacific countries and with external parties, helping enhance trust between one another and resolve conflicts.

At the event, the Royal Thai Army Commander in Chief, Gen Apirat Kongsompong said the Thai army is aware on the importance of cooperating with ASEAN and other individual countries, as Thailand is strategically located in the Indo-Pacific region, and the army is ready to tackle newer security threats, particularly cybersecurity threats, which requires the cooperation of other partner countries.

The U.S. Army Chief of Staff, James McConville said today the conference, originally convened with only nine participating countries, has grown to include 27 participating countries because of the mutual awareness of the countries of the need to exchange opinions in order to solve issues and maintain peace in the region to everyone’s benefit.

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Environment

Expedia and Accor join UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge

Expedia Group, a mega booking platform, and the global hotel company Accor are joining forces to extend their commitment to the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge.

Published

7 hours ago

March 8, 2021

Rithy Chey

Expedia Group, the global travel platform and Accor, a world leading hospitality group, in conjunction with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), are joining forces to further extend the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge (hereinafter also “The Pledge”).

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Ecommerce

Disrupted by Covid-19, will South-east Asia’s super apps join forces?

Published

7 hours ago

March 8, 2021

Oxford Business Group

Disrupted by Covid-19, will South-east Asia's super apps join forces?

– Super apps explore inorganic growth options
– Gojek in talks with e-commerce company Tokopedia over $18bn merger
– Grab reported to be preparing for a public listing in the US
– Food delivery and financial services increasingly important segments

After a year of external expansion and internal reorganisation due to Covid-19, South-east Asia’s super apps appear to be looking towards mergers and public listings as a strategy for future development.

In early January international media reported that Indonesian ride-hailing and payments giant Gojek was in advanced talks about merging with local e-commerce company Tokopedia, in a deal estimated to be worth $18bn.

Any potential merger between the two would be significant for Indonesia. The two local unicorns could create a digital powerhouse, with integrated services ranging from ride-hailing to digital payments, e-commerce and delivery.

A tie-up would also create numerous synergies, such as Gojek’s fleet being able to serve Tokopedia’s online shopping orders. However, there is also some overlap in the digital payments space, where Gojek’s GoPay platform competes with Ovo, which is 35% owned by Tokopedia, although there is speculation that Tokopedia may look to sell its stake in Ovo.

The news was followed by separate reports in late January that Grab, Gojek’s biggest competitor in South-east Asia, had selected investment banks Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan to help work on an initial public offering (IPO) in the US, set to take place in the second half of the year.

The Singapore-headquartered company, which operates ride-hailing, food delivery, e-payment and insurance services in around 400 cities across eight South-east Asian countries, is valued at around $16bn. Its IPO is expected to raise at least $2bn, which would make it the largest overseas share offering by a South-east Asian company.

Economics

Thailand’s economic outlook for 2021

The government expects inbound tourism to be at around 8 million by the second half of 2021, well below 40 million in 2019

Published

13 hours ago

March 8, 2021

Thailand Development Research Institute

The Thai economy will grow next year after contracting by almost 10% this year. Next year, the Thai economy is expected to expand 3 to 4% from this year. It will not be until the end of 2022 before the Thai economy returns to its pre-Covid level of 2019.

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