Japanese companies established Thailand’s auto industry virtually from scratch, dating back to the years after World War II. By the late 1970s, Japanese brands commanded around 90 percent of car sales in Thailand. They invested in building Thai supply chains, and their cars were also widely perceived by customers as reliable, the New York Times reported. In the 1990s, American and South Korean automakers targeted the Thai market but barely made a dent in Japan’s share.
Read more
Energy Absolute Pcl shares plunged by the 30% daily limit after the founder and chief executive quit over a fraud probe and its credit rating was slashed to junk, Bloomberg News reported. Energy Absolute fell to a 10-year low of 9.2 baht when it resumed trading Tuesday, after revealing it has 19.5 billion baht ($539 million) of debt due in 2024 and is seeking one or more strategic partners. Its disclosure followed a one-day share suspension ordered by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, which demanded the renewables company explain its financials and the impact of a fraud probe.
Read more
Thailand's prime minister said Monday that eligible businesses and individuals can register from August for digital cash handouts, a controversial program that will cost billions of dollars and is meant to boost the lagging economy. The government announced in April the widely criticized ambitious plan, named the “Digital Wallet,” meant to give 10,000 baht (about $275) to 50 million citizens in digital money to spend at local businesses.
Read more
Thailand’s central bank remains firm in its opposition to a government plan to give nearly $14 billion in cash to almost all adult citizens to revitalize consumption activity, saying the prudent thing would be to focus on the needy, Bloomberg News reported. With private consumption forecast to expand about 4% this year after a record growth of 7% last year, there’s no need to stimulate demand across the board, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said in an interview on Tuesday.
Read more