Last year Thailand won worldwide praise for its effective measures to contain COVID-19. This year the government is facing growing public outrage over the failure to control new covid outbreaks, and the slow acquisition of vaccines. Some embassies have had to source vaccines for their own citizens over concerns they may otherwise have to wait […]
The Delta variant has ripped through Southeast Asia in recent weeks, undoing many countries’ progress against the Covid-19 pandemic. Indonesia has been hit especially hard. The spiraling crisis in Indonesia—and worsening situations in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are all experiencing their highest rate of case growth since the start of the pandemic—is a […]
Singapore’s government has provided an array of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to help businesses reduce their overhead costs during the pandemic. The government is expected to draw on S$53.7 billion (US$40 billion) from its reserves for this year and an additional S24 billion (US$17.8 billion) over the next three years to assist local companies transition […]
BANGKOK (NNT) – The Commerce Ministry reported on Thursday (24 June) that Thai exports recorded their fastest expansion in 11 years during May, driven by strong global demand and economic recovery in trading partners, as the government continues aggressive promotion efforts. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said exports jumped by 45.9% in May, after a 25.7% […]
BANGKOK (NNT) – The Budget Bureau notes that the Thai government plans to increase its investment budget by 90 billion baht in the fiscal year 2022, in compliance with a law related to state financial and fiscal discipline. Budget Bureau Director Dechapiwat Na Songkhla said, of the 90 billion baht the government plans to add […]
BANGKOK (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry announced that the government has approved the order for 20 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The ministry will have a month to negotiate with Pfizer, while the company must send documents to register the vaccine with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said […]
Population aging in China (A1 stable) and other emerging markets in Asia will hurt economic growth, competitiveness and fiscal revenue, unless productivity gains accelerate, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service. And although China’s new policy allowing couples to have up to three children could support fertility, it is unlikely to dramatically change […]
The ASEAN-6 economies have experienced a surge in Covid-19 cases since the start of 2021, which has led to the reinstatement of social distancing measures. Thailand has recorded over 120,000 cases since April against less than 7,000 in all of 2020. At the other end of the spectrum Singapore and Vietnam averaged 5 and 1.1 […]
