Thailand adds 11.3 billion USD to assist pandemic-affected enterprises
The Thai Cabinet on March 24 approved financial support measures worth a total of 350 billion Baht (11.3 billion USD) to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pedestrians walk along a near empty Khaosan Road in Bangkok (Photo: Bloomberg)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Cabinet on March 24 approved financialsupport measures worth a total of 350 billion Baht (11.3 billion USD) to assistbusinesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accordingly, the measures include a plan to provide 250billion baht of soft loans for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a100-billion-baht programme called “Asset Warehousing” to support debtors whoare unable to repay their loans.
The steps to channel more credit to business came a dayahead of a central bank rate decision, with the Bank of Thailand expected tohold its benchmark rate at a record low of 0.5 percent for a seventh straightmeeting. The central bank sees tourism, which accounted for about one-fifth ofgross domestic product pre-pandemic, as key to returning the economy to growthafter it shrank by 6.1 percent last year.
The economy is expected to return to pre-coronaviruspandemic levels in the third quarter of next year, with the recovery slow anduneven as tourism remains sluggish.
The tourism-reliant economy could take at least four to fiveyears to see the number of foreign tourists return to normal levels, of about40 million a year, said central bank Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput./.
The Government of Thailand has launched a new scheme to promote the use of locally-made products in state projects in the hope of creating domestic economic value of 1.77 trillion baht (57.5 billion USD).
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on March 19 decided to gradually ease COVID-19 controls for foreign arrivals beginning on April 1, shortening or lifting quarantine periods and increasing the range of activities allowed them.
Immediately after Thailand’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign began at the end of last month, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered officials to look into the future use of vaccine passports, reported the Bangkok Post.
The Government of Thailand has decided to extend the “We Travel Together” programme and approve a parallel tourism campaign in efforts shore up its tourism industry hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Pedestrians walk along a near empty Khaosan Road in Bangkok (Photo: Bloomberg) 
