ASEAN countries adopted a Joint Declaration in Bali to protect journalistic works from unauthorized use by digital platforms and AI.
Oct 11, 2026
Thailand's central bank warns that recurring economic shocks have left households and small businesses financially fragile, raising fears that current flooding could cause lasting damage. With losses estimated up to 33.8 billion baht, disruption spans transport, manufacturing, and tourism, prompting the Bank of Thailand to urge lenders to offer payment relief and support vulnerable borrowers.
ASEAN faces growing geopolitical risks requiring better crisis coordination for non-combatant evacuations, especially amid potential Taiwan Strait conflict. Existing mechanisms focus on disasters, not evacuations. Recommendations include moderating expectations, choosing centralized/decentralized approaches, leveraging limited resources, learning from past operations, and starting with small, incremental improvements to build momentum.
Oct 9, 2026
ASEAN consumers increasingly use AI tools like ChatGPT for product research, shifting visibility challenges from Google rankings. Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) now structures content for AI citation and recommendation, becoming essential for foreign businesses entering Southeast Asian markets competing for consumer decision-making visibility.
Oct 8, 2026
A new PwC Thailand report shows the country entering a fresh investment phase as supply chains shift, AI adoption grows and clean energy expands. With $86 billion in 2025 FDI inflows, Thailand targets digital infrastructure, automotive, tourism and food processing, though success depends on upgrading infrastructure, talent and regulatory execution across the ASEAN gateway.
According to Krungsri Research, between 2025 and 2027 Thailand's data center industry is expected to expand at an annual rate of 7.5% to 8.5%, driven by the growing digital economy.
Thailand and Japan are deepening their industrial relationship as both countries reposition supply chains around advanced manufacturing, with Japanese companies submitting more than US$11.72 billion in investment applications across 1,380 projects between 2021 and mid-2026, according to the Thailand Board of Investment. The figure underscores Japan’s continuing importance to Thailand even as Chinese investment has […]
Thailand’s household debt problem is again moving to the centre of the economic debate as Bangkok prepares to host the IMF and World Bank annual meetings. Household debt stood at 85.2% of GDP at the end of June, while average household debt has reached its highest level in 18 years, constraining consumption and making it […]
Thailand’s largest listed companies are on track to absorb almost USD 11 billion per year in climate‑related physical risk costs by the 2050s if no adaptation measures are taken, according to new analysis from S&P Global Sustainable1. The study evaluates 84 companies representing 97% of the SET100 market capitalization and applies high‑resolution climate‑risk modelling to […]
Oct 7, 2026
SCB EIC projects strong economic growth in Asia in 2026, driven by the accelerating global electronics cycle and AI investment. However, the region’s growth faces pressures from high energy prices, uncertainty surrounding US trade policy, and tighter financial conditions, impacting countries differently depending on their energy structure, export base, and role in the global AI […]
Asian equities weakened on Wednesday despite another record-setting session on Wall Street, as rising oil prices and renewed concerns over global bond yields offset optimism about corporate earnings and AI-related growth. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan fell about 0.5%, while Hong Kong and Singapore declined and technology shares in South Korea also came under […]
Recent Middle East conflict and oil price volatility have highlighted Thailand’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, prompting calls to accelerate its clean energy transition. A seminar involving energy experts, policymakers, and industry representatives concluded that reducing fossil fuel dependence is now an economic and security necessity, not just an environmental goal, with ASEAN neighbors facing […]
Phuket has won Air Canada Vacations’ 2026 Travellers’ Top Picks Award for Wellness, voted for by Canadian travellers.