Archive
August 9, 2026
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
MR.D.I.Y., Thailand's leading DIY retailer, reported strong Q2 2026 performance with 5.8 billion baht revenue (+17.8% YoY) and 757 million baht net profit (+19.4% YoY). The company opened 59 new branches, reaching 1,248 outlets nationwide, driving transaction volume up 18.8%. Gross margin improved to 52% and net margin to 12.9%. Notably, MR.D.I.Y. gained inclusion in SET50, SETWB, and MSCI Global Small Cap Index—key validations of growth trajectory and investor confidence. On track to open 210 branches this year.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Kia Thailand launches the PV5 Cargo, a 100% electric commercial van targeting fleet and logistics operators. Built on the E-GMP.S platform, it offers 384 km NEDC range, 122 hp motor, 4,420L cargo capacity with 419mm low-floor loading height, fast 30-min DC charging (10-80%), advanced ADAS safety features, V2L power output, and Thai pricing of ฿1.199M. This addresses growing SME demand for affordable commercial EVs in logistics and delivery sectors.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
This article explores the search for emerging tech unicorns in Southeast Asia following the success of Sea Group and Grab. The piece likely examines which startups have the potential to achieve similar scale and market impact, relevant for investors and entrepreneurs tracking the region's tech ecosystem growth and identifying future market leaders.
August 8, 2026
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Thailand's government is rolling out a major rooftop solar subsidy targeting 500,000–1 million households with 50,000 baht per-household grants, low-interest financing through state banks, and a net-billing system for surplus electricity. The scheme addresses energy security (Thailand imports 60% of electricity) and offers householders breakeven in 3–4 years with linked loan repayments tied to actual electricity savings. This represents significant opportunity for SMEs in installation, equipment supply, and financial services.
Empower businesses to thrive in the digital age.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
ICOMOS experts completed a 6-day field assessment of Chiang Mai's historic urban plan (3–8 August 2026), evaluating seven temples and one archaeological site across four key dimensions: water management and city layout; living Buddhist heritage and local practices; extra-mural temple wisdom; and sacred landscape linkages. The assessment focuses on Chiang Mai's sophisticated 730-year-old city design—distinguished by strategic zoning of inner temples (spiritual center) and outer monasteries (learning and meditation hubs)—as a case for new UNESCO World Heritage cultural inscription. Clarifications will be submitted to ICOMOS by late 2026, with formal decision expected mid-2027. Temples like Wat Umong emphasize balancing tourism development with preservation of monastic practice through disciplined zone separation.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick justified GTA 6's $80 price point, citing rising development costs and superior value delivered. He also explained that physical game discs no longer make sense for large-scale games since players must download and connect online anyway. Take-Two now generates 90% of gaming revenue through digital sales, reflecting industry-wide shift toward digital distribution.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Four major tourism and hospitality industry associations—hotels, restaurants, retailers, and services—are jointly reshaping the Food & Hospitality Thailand 2026 (FHT) event to align with Thailand's "Value over Volume" tourism strategy. Running 19–22 August 2026 with three co-hosted expos, FHT aims to attract 30,000+ participants and drive high-value tourism focused on wellness, culinary, and cultural experiences. Key topics include AI-driven retail innovation, Asian hospitality trends, and positioning Thai cuisine as a tourism and economic driver—targeting 33 million foreign visitors and 1.5–1.55 trillion baht in revenue for 2026.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Phatthalung's agricultural office launched a knowledge-sharing initiative to upgrade honey banana production through technology transfer and innovation. The program established a demonstration farm as a learning center, offering training in pest management, soil treatment, tissue culture propagation, and product value-added processing. The effort aims to reduce production costs, improve quality, and enable sustainable income for local farmers—relevant to agri-tech SMEs seeking to scale in the central-southern region.
Your real translator for LINE and Discord.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Thailand's southern durian production is in its final season with 70–80% of output already in market. The Commerce Ministry has set a target to absorb 300,000 tonnes domestically (over 200,000 already acquired) to stabilize prices amid a 28% rise in production. Total exports reached 1.11 million tonnes worth 127.22 billion baht by 4 August. The ministry is implementing fruit calendars for each province, promoting processing and value-add (e.g., durian-shell organic fertilizer), and expanding logistics via rail and Nong Khai checkpoint to manage supply and reduce waste—shifting from ad-hoc crisis management to forward planning.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Anthropic has enabled Claude Code to autonomously communicate across concurrent sessions, allowing users to pass data between sessions without manual copying. This streamlines multi-step workflows by letting sessions exchange information automatically. macOS and Linux users need to update to version 2.1.224 to access this feature.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Thailand's Central Administrative Court rejected NBTC chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck's petition to overturn a removal ruling, clearing the way for his formal dismissal. Sarana was found to have violated the Frequency Allocation Act by continuing work as a physician at a state hospital despite full-time NBTC obligations. The court's decision unblocks the process for royal approval of his removal and allows the regulator to resume normal operations after a board stalemate that had delayed major telecom and broadcast rulings.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Thailand's government is fast-tracking national school safety standards in response to a deadly school shooting. Key measures include: (1) 6 emergency initiatives to reopen affected schools within 90 days, featuring mental health screening, bullying prevention (Zero Tolerance), and a rights protection center; (2) pending Cabinet approval of search authority for administrators and teachers to inspect bags of at-risk students; (3) professional mental health support hotlines (1300, 1323) and on-site psychology teams. The 90-day roadmap covers routine psychiatric screening, at-risk student referral systems, teacher training, and strict weapons-screening protocols. While addressing real school security gaps, the bag-search provision raises civil liberties concerns for Thai SMEs and educators.
Want to buy or sell a business?
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
PM Anusit orders strict enforcement of gun-carrying restrictions outside homes and directs tightening of weapons control laws in response to a school shooting at Thepsirin School, Nonthaburi. Gun owners face joint liability if weapons are stolen or misused; illegal firearms face mandatory seizure. Long-term enforcement will involve police and provincial administration with full cooperation from prosecutors and courts.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Multiple new community malls are launching on Bangkok's Chaeng Watthana-Rama Intra corridor following the opening of the pink BTS line. Key projects include: Portobello Mall (Origin Property), The Color—a 48,000 sqm lifestyle mall with 4–5 billion baht investment targeting Q1 2027, and Life Rama Intra (J Lifestyle Center, 15 rai, targeting H2 2026 near Ku Bon station). Additional development includes potential retail on 51 rai (Perfect Property) and 122 rai (The Mall Group, Bangsaen). These projects target growing residential and commercial demand in the area.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
DKSH launched a "Road to Winning with the MPS Science" experiential marketing campaign targeting the growing hybrid workout segment in Thailand. The initiative includes bootcamps co-hosted with sports physician Dr. Smitda to educate active consumers on injury prevention and body care, positioning Hirudoid as essential for the active lifestyle trend reshaping consumer behavior among younger demographics.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
AIS reported Q2 2025 net profit of 13.7 billion baht and total revenue of 56.5 billion baht, exceeding expectations. Home broadband (3BB FIBRE3) drove growth at 7.9% with 5.3 million subscribers, while mobile revenue grew 6% with 47.1 million lines and 5G adoption reaching 19.7 million. The company maintains full-year targets of 3-5% service revenue growth and 2-4% EBITDA growth, with capex budgeted at 30-35 billion baht. New business initiatives include the PLAY ALL entertainment package and CLICX, Thailand's first branchless digital bank.
Together GoWeGo! Ferry tickets in Thailand.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
MG Motors Thailand's Deputy MD Chatwithai Tantraporn outlines the company's three-pillar "GLOCAL" strategy (global innovation, Thai passion, value choice) as it scales from 250,000–260,000 vehicles in-market to achieve 36,000 unit sales target for 2026 (revised up from 30,000). Growth is fueled by dealer expansion (130 locations, 126 showrooms/service centers), a unified new corporate identity rollout, and strong NEV momentum (70,000–80,000 electric vehicles in fleet). First-half 2026 sales grew 67%. The shift from ICE to NEV dominance (now 54.6% NEV vs 94.4% ICE in 2021) and dealer service quality emphasis signal a maturing play for market share in Thailand's auto-electric transition.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Opposition and government-aligned parties jointly criticized Thailand's 1999 Education Act as ineffective, with 80% of education budgets going to teacher salaries and minimal curriculum development. They called for a revolutionary (not merely reformist) overhaul of the education system, including separating basic education legislation, establishing an independent "super-board" insulated from political turnover, and addressing persistent inequality. Key gaps identified include poor PISA performance, inadequate mental health support for students, and lack of system flexibility.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Thailand's industrial leaders support data center investment as critical infrastructure for AI, Cloud, and Big Data adoption (72.5% of CEOs surveyed). However, FTI warns that success requires state oversight of utility costs—particularly water and electricity—to prevent resource conflict, higher electricity bills for other sectors, and competitive disadvantage. Priorities: cost-reflective utility pricing, local tech ecosystem support, cybersecurity standards, and tiered incentives tied to domestic value creation and energy efficiency.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Bangchak Group is launching "The Chlorophyll," a new 10-rai community mall in Bang Yai, Bangkok—the third branch after Hua Hin and Khon Kaen. The company leased the land for 20 years and is constructing a gas station (opening late 2569) with full retail commercial space opening in early 2570. The project targets convenience retail and fuel sales amid rising land taxes pressuring developers to monetize idle property through long-term leases.
Stop running your company on Excel.