In a world where diplomacy and defense intertwine like the intricate plot of an international spy thriller, the narrative of Thailand’s quest for maritime prowess takes an intriguing turn. Sutin, our protagonist in this geopolitical dance, finds himself amidst a high-stakes negotiation, not for secrets, but for something equally compelling – submarines. Imagine the scene: the bustling streets of China, where last week, our envoy-extraordinaire, Sutin, embarked on a pivotal journey. His mission? To engage in a diplomatic ballet with a Chinese committee vested with the monumental task of negotiating the sale of a submarine to the Royal Thai Navy. The stakes? High. The atmosphere? Electric. The narrative thickens as Sutin recounts his expeditions through the corridors of negotiation. With the poise of a seasoned diplomat, he articulated the concerns that have been the talk of Thai society – the looming question marks over the quality of a Chinese-made engine…
Posts published in “Thailand”
It was on a bustling Monday that Phumtham divulged a rather juicy tidbit, one that could very well change the fortunes of Thai rice exporters. He mentioned he’d been rallying trade representatives stationed at Thai embassies across the globe to sniff out golden opportunities for export. Lo and behold, the envoy nestled in the heart of Italy chimed in with news as delightful as an Italian opera – Italy was in dire need of more rice, courtesy of an unyielding drought. Adding another layer to this unfolding drama, Phumtham shared how the European Union, in a rather bold move, had stripped Vietnam and Myanmar of their tax privileges. The reason? Both nations had apparently turned a blind eye to the fundamental rights of their laborers. Yet, Phumtham underscored a caveat that sounded like a ticking clock in the midst of this serendipity – Thailand had but a fleeting window to…
Gone are the days of predictable economic forecasts, as the ever-dynamic Southeast Asia’s powerhouse, Thailand, takes us on a roller coaster ride of economic expectations for the upcoming years. Initially set at a hopeful 3.2% and 3.1% for 2024 and 2025, the growth outlook has unexpectedly hit a detour, dialing back to more modest projections. What’s behind this sudden shift in economic winds, you ask? Let’s dive into the high seas of fiscal forecasts and unravel the mystery. In a surprising turn of events, Thailand’s economy, the silver medalist of Southeast Asia, only managed a sluggish 1.9% expansion in 2023. Moreover, in a plot twist worthy of a financial thriller, the last quarter of 2023 saw the economy retract by 0.6% from its third-quarter performance. This unexpected downturn prompted Thailand’s central bank to adjust its spectacles and recalibrate its 2024 growth outlook to a range between 2.5% and 3.0%, a…
In the vibrant realms of finance and civic planning, the story of Thailand’s financial journey from October 2023 through to the fresh beginnings of this year is one that unfolds with the intrigue of a financial thriller. As articulated by the eloquent spokesman of the ministry, Pornchai Teerawet, this tale involves billions of baht, forward-thinking environmental policies, a dance of numbers, and the relentless pursuit of a fiscal equilibrium. Let us delve into the intricacies of this narrative. The ministry, a guardian of the nation’s coffers, encountered a mild tremor in its financial projections. The period in question saw it amassing a colossal sum of 981.90 billion baht, a figure that, while substantial, whispered tales of shortfall whispers in the hallowed halls of government finance. This amount and sang a somber tune of being 2.5% or approximately 25.14 billion baht shy of their golden target. Furthermore, when cast under the…
As swarms of tourists basked under the unyielding gaze of the sun near the grandeur of the Grand Palace last week, little did they know that they were about to dance with the fiery extremes of the Thai summer. Clad in their best summer wear, ready to explore the rich history and culture Thailand has to offer, they were inadvertently signing up for a rendezvous with temperatures that could soar to the heights of 43.0-44.5 degrees Celsius. Yes, you heard that right. According to the oracle of weather, the Meteorological Department, this month is set to turn the heat up, quite literally. The forecasters, acting as the modern-day seers, have unleashed a prediction that could make even the sun take a step back. From the scorching sands of the northeast to the balmy breezes of the east, the entire stretch is likely to be enveloped in a cloak of heat…
Imagine a world where the backbone of urban development, the construction industry, faces an unprecedented challenge. Among the bustling streets and rising skyscrapers of Thailand, one company stands at the forefront of this narrative – Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), a titan in the construction sector, grappling with a liquidity crisis that has brought it to its knees. It’s a tale of resilience, economic twists, and the relentless pursuit of equilibrium. As the curtain rose on a Monday not long ago, a beacon of hope flickered on the horizon. The man of the hour, Suriya, elucidated a groundbreaking measure poised to revolutionize the landscape for contractors nationwide. The spotlight shone on the “K factor” or escalation factor compensation, a vital financial safeguard designed to shield contractors from the unforeseeable fluctuations in costs. This, Suriya confidently declared, would be the lifeline ITD and its comrades in arms needed to navigate their liquidity…
Imagine stepping into an airport, feeling the buzz of excitement in the air as you’re about to embark on a new adventure or return home after a memorable journey. Now, airports across Thailand are making headlines with a significant announcement that’s catching the attention of travelers worldwide. The familiar hustle and bustle of airports like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Suvarnabhumi are about to experience a slight change in the wind. Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has decided it’s time to tweak the passenger service charges (PSC) for those taking off on both domestic and international voyages. Kerati Kijmanawat, the president of AOT, divulged this Monday that the fees have undergone a minor facelift. For adventurers setting their sights beyond the borders, the charge has ascended from a modest 700 to a still-reasonable 730 baht. Domestic travelers aren’t left out of this update, with their…
In the hauntingly serene hours just after midnight in Kanchanaburi, a saga unfolded along the winding embrace of Road 323 in Sangkhla Buri district, offering a stark reminder of the relentless pursuit of hope amidst adversity. Here, under the silent watch of the night sky, a lorry, laden with dreams and desperate for a new dawn, met with fate in a chilling twist. This lorry wasn’t just any vehicle; it was a vessel of hope for Myanmar citizens, smuggling them into the promise of a better tomorrow in Thailand. The drama began when the lorry, hugging the curves of the road as it descended a hill, lost its battle with gravity. Pol Lt Decharit Pholkamol, the deputy superintendent of Sangkhla Buri police, recounted the harrowing moments when the vehicle, unable to negotiate a curve, surrendered to its momentum, rolling onto its side in a grim ballet of metal and dust.…
Imagine standing on the edge of the breathtakingly serene Doi Suthep mountain in Chiang Mai province, only to find your view obscured by a menacing haze. This was the reality on a Sunday not too long ago, as a valiant firefighter battled a ferocious blaze, an act courageously captured in a photograph by Panumate Tanraksa. But this was only the beginning of a much larger story unfurling across the northern reaches of Thailand. Nestled amid the stunning landscapes of Northern Thailand, several provinces awoke on a fateful Monday morning to an unwelcome blanket of air so polluted, it was virtually screaming “danger” in vivid shades of red. The culprit? PM2.5, particulate matter so fine it dances on air, infiltrating lungs and diminishing the very essence of health. According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), no fewer than 14 northern Thai provinces were gripped by this invisible, yet…
In a moving testament to humanity’s capacity for generosity and forward-thinking, the Mirror Foundation recently lit up social media with a startling image—a cheque fashioned in favor of a benevolent soul, Srettha Thavisin. The snapshot captured not merely a transaction, but a story of hope, dedication, and innovative technology coming together in a harmonious symphony against forest fires in Thailand. Like a plot twist in an inspiring novel, earlier this month, a phone rang at the Mirror Foundation’s office, carrying a voice weighted with intention. The caller, an anonymous donor with a grand vision, expressed the desire to pledge 50,000 baht. The purpose? To empower the Mirror Foundation’s relentless pursuit of social betterment in ways only they deemed fit. The Foundation, with a twinkle in their eye and a plan in their heart, shared a vision of deploying heat-sensing drones into the dense, smoke-filled forests of Thailand. These aren’t just…