The Standard and Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) warned that Thailand’s sovereign credit rating is facing a downturn, due to gloomy long-term economic prospects, on September 29.
The Standard and Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) warned that Thailand’s sovereign credit rating is facing a downturn, due to gloomy long-term economic prospects, on September 29.
According to S&P, the country’s credit metrics have been slowly deteriorating since 2006 due to domestic political uncertainties and the negative impacts of the political situation on the country’s long term growth prospects
S&P Senior Director of Sovereign and International Public Finance ratings in the Asia-Pacific Kimeng Tan said Thailand’s sovereign credit rating is stable within the level of a BBB+ in the short term. However, he stressed political risks, including delays in drafting a new constitution, are factors that seriously affect the country’s rating.
Thailand’s economy only grew 0.9 percent in 2014 due to a decline in exports and political instability.
On the same day, the Thailand Tourism Council (TTC) urged the country’s authorities to create more favourable conditions for tourists from ASEAN nations in a bid to increase the number of regional visitors to the country in 2016.
Chairman of the TTC Itthirit Kinglek said custom agencies and relevant authorities should improve administrative procedures and remove restrictions for holidaymakers from ASEAN country members, particularly when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is to be formed at the end of this year.
Thailand expects to welcome six million tourists from AEC countries this year while about four million Thai nationals visit those countries in return.-VNA
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has confirmed that the recent reduction of the benchmark rate by 0.25 percent is yet to create any substantial effects on the capital market as it is within the expectation of financial institutions.
Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 3.1 percent this year, lower than the earlier projected growth of 3.2 percent this year and 4.2 percent next year.
Japanese businesses are still confident of making investments in Thailand as they believe that the country will play a very prominent role in the region once the ASEAN Economic Community takes shape.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
A worker in a Thai factory (Source:Reuters)
