Thailand keeps key interest rate unchanged, lowers 2021 economic outlook
Thailand’s central bank on June 23 decided to keep key rate unchanged at record low 0.5 percent and cut 2021 economic growth forecast following the complicated development of COVID-19 in the country.
People wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand’s central bank on June 23 decided to keep key rate unchanged at recordlow 0.5 percent and cut 2021 economic growth forecast following thecomplicated development of COVID-19 in the country.
Assistant Governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) TitanunMallikamas said the COVID-19 inoculation drive is the key to recover the economy.
The BoT now expectsSoutheast Asia’s second largest economy to grow 1.8 percent this year, down from aprevious forecast for 3.0 percent.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha this week moved toallow more social activity in the capital, even as COVID-19 related fatalities rose to a record on June 23,which took total deaths to 1,744, since the pandemic began last year. As ofJune 21, about 11 percent of the population had received at least a first dose ofanti-COVID-19 vaccine.
Thailand’s urgency in reopening stems fromits dependence on tourism, which contributed about one-fifth of economicoutput before the pandemic. The Cabinet on June 22 gave final approval forthe Phuket “sandbox,” which will allow quarantine-free travel for vaccinatedvisitors to the popular tourist island from July 1./.
Thailand’s plan to fully reopen the country within 120 days would support economic growth of 2.3 percent this year as forecast by the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), said the office's director-general Kulaya Tantitemit.
The central banks of Thailand and Malaysia launched a cross-border QR payment linkage to enable consumers and merchants in both countries to make and receive instant QR code payments.
Laos has decided to extend a nationwide lockdown order for an additional 15 days in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid the complicated developments of the pandemic in many localities.
Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, competition between coffee chains in Vietnam has become increasingly fierce with more giants trying to grab a slice of the lucrative market.
Thailand saw a record 51 COVID-19 fatalities over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,774, the country’s Ministry of Public Health announced on June 23.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
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.
People wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
