Success has come at a price for Thailand’s tourism industry. With total visitor numbers increasing very rapidly and for many years, infrastructure is under strain. According to the World Bank, bottlenecks are starting to develop in places such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The situation at the country’s airports is particularly challenging. Airports of Thailand told local media in…
This chapter examines Thailand’s tax laws relevant to businesses. It explains key corporate tax rates and regulations, tax holidays and incentives, and other important areas. It also contains a viewpoint from Andrew Jackomos and Paul Ashburn, Co-Managing Partners, BDO.…
Selected headline numbers generated by the Thai education sector have been encouraging. The country has a high rate of literacy, an increasing number of top-rated universities, long school-life expectancy, a strong history of education and a large education budget. Globally and regionally, it compares well by these measures. The country also has ambitions to become a major educational centre, undertaking…
Thailand is quickly going from being a secondary player in the world of technology to a regional, if not global, leader. The relevant sectors are rapidly beginning to take off with the introduction of 4G and the build-out of fixed-line assets. Greater bandwidth, higher speeds, lower latency and increased consumer demand have led to a burst of activity. The country is now arguably the centre of ICT…
Thailand’s rise to the forefront of economic development in South-east Asia over the past three decades was first fuelled by its agricultural prowess, which was then followed by its transition into a regional manufacturing powerhouse, before the more recent push to evolve into a knowledge- and service-based economy. Although numerous factors have aided the country’s achievements across disparate…
Economic stability, comparatively well-developed infrastructure and competitive investment incentives have attracted a steady flow of financing to Thailand’s manufacturing sector from both foreign and domestic sources, resulting in one of the strongest manufacturing bases in the ASEAN region and the second-largest economy within the trade block. These investments – made initially in basic industrial…
View the OBG Business Barometer: Thailand CEO survey infographic The results of the first survey conducted by Oxford Business Group (OBG) on the practical implications of Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) – which places sustainability at the core of its thinking, advancing a different approach from that of short-term, shareholder value-centred ideas of economic development – reveal…
Read my evaluation of the OBG Business Barometer: Thailand CEO Survey results OBG Business Barometer: Thailand SEP CEO Survey Copyright (c). All rights reserved. This survey has been designed to assess business sentiment amongst business leaders (Chief Executives of equivalent) and their outlook for the next 12 months. Unlike many surveys, the OBG Business Barometer is conducted by OBG staff on…
On Retail Indicators and Consumer Trends How would you assess the recovery rate for consumption indicators in the short term? KRIENGCHAI BOONPOAPICHART: I believe 2016 was a year of recovery for Thailand, as many indicators began trending upward following several years in which consumption and overall economic growth were negatively impacted by several factors, including political…
Rising demand for Thai organic goods in both local and export markets has prompted the government to pursue a range of initiatives aimed at encouraging organic farming practices. New support scheme The state is launching a new programme to promote organic agriculture by encouraging a reduction in the amount of new rice planting, and a shift from commercial varieties to organic strains, Chutima…
