Archive
August 22, 2026
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Hawell's, a legendary Thai ice cream brand, is seeking a successor after decades in the market. Founded in 1999 by Dr. Siripong Akraserayukt, the brand expanded rapidly to 22 branches but faced competitive pressures and closure by 2014. It relaunched in October 2023 with a new standalone store model offering ice cream and fast food (pizza, spaghetti khao soi), aiming to establish stability for franchisees and expand globally. The company's latest financials show modest activity, with the main entity last reporting THB 6.9M revenue in 2012.
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OpenAI is reducing GPT-5.6 Sol API pricing by over 20%. This is relevant to Thai SMEs building AI-powered applications or leveraging OpenAI's APIs, as lower costs directly improve margins on AI-integrated products and services. Tech startups should reassess their AI infrastructure budgets and consider expanding AI features given improved economics.
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Thai financial institutions face mounting pressure to measure and disclose Scope 3 financed emissions under international standards (PCAF, SBTi, IFRS S2). TCAF (Thaipat Carbon Attribution Factors), developed by the Thailand Institute of Development, solves a critical data bottleneck by providing sector-specific carbon intensity ratios (tCO₂e per million baht of investment), enabling banks, insurers, and asset managers to quickly calculate financed emissions without collecting primary data from borrowers and portfolio companies—especially SMEs. While TCAF simplifies compliance reporting, it should be paired with transition financing tools to actively decarbonize high-carbon clients rather than used as negative screening alone.
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Thai IPO market hit a 15-year low in the first 8 months of 2025, with only 2 companies raising 575.92 million baht—a stark contrast to the SET Index's strong 30% YTD growth. The slump reflects delayed market recovery from previous years' weakness; companies postponed IPO plans during downturns and preparation timelines (typically 12-18 months) haven't yet reflected current positive sentiment. SET officials expect strong recovery in 2026 as improved market conditions encourage pent-up pipeline of delayed listings. Regulatory adjustments are underway to support New Economy businesses.
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Thailand's Ministry of Public Health is pursuing a Medical Investment Hub strategy, negotiating MOUs with 8 major pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and drive healthcare-linked economic growth. The initiative targets 0.5% GDP contribution and aims to position Thailand in the global Top 20 through three pillars: international health services hubs, clinical trial infrastructure, and medical R&D. Government is leveraging national health data (via NHSO) to focus investment in high-priority areas (cancer, prosthetics, clinical research) and plans investment conferences, particularly in Phuket later this year.
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Thai Deputy PM Ekniti announced Thai Airways plans to restore the Bangkok-Auckland direct flight route ahead of the original 2027 timeline, with discussions underway to secure landing slots at Auckland Airport. The government is exploring commercial collaboration with Air New Zealand through code-share agreements, positioning the route as a key enabler for bilateral trade, tourism, and investment growth between Thailand and New Zealand.
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True Corporation and YouTube launched a strategic partnership combining 5G connectivity, content, and creators to push YouTube consumption among Thai telecom users from 65% to 80%. The campaign features 21 hours of exclusive content from five Thai creators (Theplelela, Rub Trab, OHANA, Tiger Cry, and Go Went Go) produced specifically for this initiative. This positions True's network infrastructure as a bridge to digital value creation—learning, creativity, and economic opportunity—rather than just connectivity. The campaign reflects both companies' confidence in premium video streaming growth and localizes YouTube Premium value for Thai audiences.
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Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister chairs emergency meeting to monitor northern floods and incoming water flows to central regions. Nan province's Chamber of Commerce estimates preliminary damages at 500 million baht, with 70% concentrated in Pua and Tha Wang Pha districts affecting agriculture, commerce, and riverside resorts. Six emergency measures proposed to government include disaster insurance subsidies, soft loans, tax relief, and "Nan Special City" initiative to address recurring flood and drought challenges. Current dam levels remain lower than previous year, with 12 major reservoirs below 30% capacity.
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August 21, 2026
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Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) is scaling wolffia (ผำ), a traditional aquatic plant, into an industrial food ingredient by integrating smart farming technology, real-time sensors, and precision agriculture. The initiative targets consistent year-round production of high-protein wolffia (>40% protein) with standardized quality metrics through controlled light, nutrients, and post-harvest management. This positions wolffia as a viable alternative protein source for food manufacturers and creates income opportunities for farmers who can meet commercial standards.
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Thai PM Anuthín led an official trade and investment mission to Australia (first in 14 years) and New Zealand, signing agreements on economic engagement and transnational crime cooperation. He brought 21 business leaders from energy, real estate, retail, and consumer goods to meet 70+ Australian firms in tech, digital, agriculture, and manufacturing. The focus is business matching and joint ventures, framing trade as "win-win" for both Thai investment in Australia and attracting Australian capital to Thailand via TAFTA opportunities.
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Thailand's auto industry supports a proposed restructuring of excise tax on electric vehicles to level the playing field between domestic and imported EVs, but urgently requests a clear 6-month implementation timeline to avoid cost disruptions. The Ministry of Finance is considering a phased tax increase (potentially from 10% to 32% on imported EVs) to incentivize local EV manufacturing. Industry leaders warn that hasty implementation without proper notice could disrupt existing customer orders and business planning, and propose a stepped tax approach tied to local content value, production volume, exports, and investment metrics.
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Thailand has launched an ambitious rooftop solar programme targeting 500 MW household capacity by end-2027. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) scheme, starting 1 July, lets participating households sell excess solar power back to the grid at a fixed rate of 2.2 baht/kWh under 10-year contracts, empowering homeowners while diversifying the country's energy supply. Key challenges include grid stability and intermittency management, but deployment of advanced synchronous condensers is underway to support integration.
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PTT Plc announced a 1.01 trillion baht capital expenditure programme scheduled between 2026 and 2030, nearly doubling its previous investment budget. The plan prioritizes upstream oil and gas exploration, infrastructure projects (including the fifth onshore gas pipeline, south Bangkok-Pattani pipeline, gas separation unit 7, and the third phase of Map Ta Phut LNG terminal), and efficiency enhancements to reduce production costs. Despite volatile global markets, PTT emphasizes maintaining operational flexibility and competitive advantage while preserving cash reserves during price instability.
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The "Thais Helps Thais Plus (60/40)" co-payment scheme survey reveals that most Thai participants spent benefits on ready-to-eat food (48.22%), fresh food (38.78%), and household essentials (32.22%). While 32.83% expect economic improvement, most participants plan to continue shopping at the same stores post-September 30 deadline. The scheme shows modest impact on savings and debt reduction, with limited long-term behavioral change expected.
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PM Anutin commits to reviewing EV incentive structures to ensure fair treatment for all foreign manufacturers and remove investment obstacles. He emphasizes Japan's historical importance to Thai automotive industry and pledges continued political-economic stability. Government aims to attract long-term investment rather than impose new conditions once investors commit.
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Thai domestic steelmakers are urging the government to enforce stricter quality controls on induction furnace (IF) steel, citing safety risks from impurities and pushing for faster adoption of cleaner Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Ladle Furnace (LF) technologies to meet global standards. The government is conducting a feasibility study on banning IF technology by 2028, a move that has sparked anxiety among ~11 IF operators (many Chinese-owned or joint ventures) who fear severe disruption to investments and operations, though EAF/LF operators welcome stricter enforcement.
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The DES Ministry defended the TH-AI Passport project's data privacy measures, stating that personal and behavioral data will be processed and stored entirely within Thailand under the Personal Data Protection Act. Data collected cannot be used to train external AI models without user consent, and the ministry emphasized strict agreements prevent overseas usage. Registration opened in advance of the Aug 31 launch, with new users receiving "innovator" status granting 30-day pro-level AI model access. While governance structures address SME concerns, the ministry acknowledged no zero-data-breach guarantee exists.
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Google urges Thailand to balance data centre oversight with competitiveness, warning that overly rigid or uncertain regulations risk diverting AI infrastructure investment to rival markets. The company highlighted its $1B investment (announced 2024) supporting ~14,000 jobs annually and delivering $4B GDP uplift by 2029, while emphasizing resource efficiency (power usage 1.08–1.09 vs 1.54–1.58 industry average) and water stewardship commitments across 97 watersheds globally.
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Thai government's coalition partnership faces internal stress as opposition prepares a no-confidence debate against PM Srettha Thavisin. Political operator Thaksin Shinawatra is rumored to be orchestrating moves to exploit divisions between coalition partners, particularly targeting Pheu Thai's parliamentary support. A large-scale rebellion could strip the government of its majority, forcing new coalitions or dissolution of parliament. The threat underscores how internal coalition politics can pose greater danger than formal opposition attacks.
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Thonglor Animal Hospital marks 32 years with a strategic pivot from reactive treatment to proactive preventive care, repositioning itself as a "Healthcare Partner" rather than just a healthcare provider. The hospital is leveraging 32 years of patient data to identify disease patterns and risk factors, enabling predictive care. Advanced technologies like TEER (Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair) for cardiac cases and 24/7 surgical teams exemplify their commitment to best patient outcomes. This shift reflects a growing market demand for holistic, long-term pet wellness rather than episodic treatment.
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