As tourist demand continues to surge, airlines in Southeast Asia are gearing up for an extensive expansion of flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) predicts a full recovery of the airline industry in the fourth quarter of next year, with pre-Covid levels expected to return by 2025.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to capitalize on the rising trend, targeting the "CIA" market, which includes China, India, and ASEAN countries. Their ambitious goal is to attract 25 million tourists this year and 35 million next year.

To cater to this growing demand, Thai Lion Air is set to resume six daily flights from Bangkok to various Chinese cities, including Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shanghai. Additionally, they will restart flights to Tokyo from Bangkok through Taipei. These moves are scheduled to commence in mid-August.

EVA Airways is also joining in on the action, intending to promote Thailand as a top tourist destination through its extensive flight network covering Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. The airline offers a significant number of direct flights to Bangkok, Taipei, China, Japan, and Seoul.

In response to the preferences of Indian travelers for flying with Indian airlines, the TAT is closely monitoring the Indian market. They observed a decline in the number of business travelers in the region. However, a new Indian airline called Akasa Air is expected to begin operations by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Nok Air is preparing to resume flights to Singapore, and Air Asia is planning flights from Bangkok to Cebu, Philippines, to cater to Filipino travelers. MYAirline from Malaysia is also considering offering international flights to Bangkok’s airports, as well as services to other popular Thai destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Samui.

Source : NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU OF THAILAND

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has announced a collaboration with various entities in the capital market sector, business organizations, and government agencies to fight against investment fraud.

The collaboration aims to exchange information, detect fake news, and raise public awareness about investment scams.

The initiative includes seminars with guest speakers, as well as the integration of operating systems among the capital market sector and government agencies to stop fraudulent investment cases more efficiently.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), and other organizations are part of this collaboration. The public is encouraged to check and share any unrealistic investment invitations and to verify the legitimacy of organizations and individuals before investing.

Source : Thailand Business News

The Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport is taking steps to improve the transportation of Cambodian agricultural products to Chinese markets by exploring a new trade route through Laos.

Kong Vimean, a spokesperson for the Ministry, says Chinese investors and advisors had expressed concerns about the rising expenses and complications in using neighboring countries as a transit route to China.

In response to this, the ministry is coordinating plans to facilitate Chinese investors in transporting Cambodian agricultural goods via to China via Laos, employing the country’s new high-speed train service.

The proposed route will begin in Phnom Penh and traverse Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Kratie, and Stung Treng provinces before entering Laos and moving onward to China.

Vimean emphasized that Cambodia, Laos, and China have already established cross-border transport procedures and agreements, ensuring a smooth flow of goods.

By opting for the Laos route, the Chinese companies expect to lower costs and experience simplified procedures, unlike the hurdles faced when using the Thai and Vietnamese routes. Though the distance covered through Laos is slightly longer, the advantages of reduced expenses and streamlined formalities are more attractive to these companies.

The Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport is enthusiastic about boosting Cambodia’s agricultural sector on the global platform and is open to facilitating similar arrangements for other Chinese companies. With this move, exports of various agricultural products such as mangos, durian, cashew nuts, pineapples, and milled rice to China are expected to increase significantly.

Sin Chanthy, President of the Cambodia Logistics Association, praised the new trade route, stating that it would greatly benefit the association.

“The transport of agricultural products via Stung Treng will be more profitable than the use of the ports of Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, which are far away. Thanks to the transport ministry’s coordination of the new infrastructure, it will also be simpler,” he said.

The Chinese companies plan to establish a dry port in Stung Treng town, leading to increased profitability for transporting agricultural products from the province. Chanthy also highlighted that the coordinated infrastructure efforts by the transport ministry would make the process much simpler compared to utilizing distant ports like Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.

By: Latsamy Phonevilay 

Source: The Laotian Times

JAKARTA, 25 July 2023 –  In an effort to promote circular economy transition in the region, over 50 government and business representatives from ASEAN Member States (AMS) came together for the Regional Policy Dialogue on ASEAN MSMEs Participation in Circular Economy on 25-26 July in Jakarta.

Hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, the dialogue served as a platform for industry and policy experts to shed light on recent policy trends in ASEAN and AMS and  provide insights on successful and innovative circular business models.

The dialogue culminated with a decision to produce policy recommendations on ASEAN MSMEs’ participation in the circular economy. The recommendations are aimed to promote regional cooperation in the MSME sector to identify challenges, opportunities, and share good practices in promoting MSME participation in the circular economy.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister for SMEs for Indonesia’s Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Hanung Harimba Rachman said, “As the chair of ASEAN in 2023, Indonesia has adopted the theme: “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” which focuses on growth and prosperity. We aim to strengthen ASEAN to become a fast-growing, inclusive and sustainable economic region.”

In his remarks, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh highlighted the challenges stemming from the overuse of finite natural resources and urged ASEAN to come together and explore alternative resources. “Embracing the circular economy is imperative for ASEAN, not only to safeguard our livelihoods from future challenges such as climate change and food security but also for ASEAN as a region to remain relevant and competitive in international trade,” he said.

Echoing this sentiment  Shameer Khanal,  Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Lead Advisor/Cluster Coordinator ASEAN, underlined the importance of capacity building and public support schemes for MSMEs to prepare for new business opportunities and access to foreign markets.

“In this context, GIZ, with the support of the German Government, focuses on collaborating thematically with ASEAN on cross-border trade while remaining open to cooperation and policy dialogues on all emerging topics.” He also encouraged MSMEs to utilise the ASEAN Access, a portal designed to facilitate the internationalisation of MSMEs in all sectors, including those with circular business models, through business matching, market talks, and capacity building activities.

The policy dialogue is an initiative under ASEAN Access on the occasion of Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2023. The event was organised in consultation with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs and the Task Force on ASEAN Access with support from GIZ as funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through the GIZ SME Promotion in ASEAN II project.

Original News: here

Thailand’s automotive market contracted 5% year on year in the first six months of this year, with total vehicle sales reaching 406,131, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Thursday.

Toyota topped the chart with 136,859 vehicles sold from January to June, dropping 3.6% from the year-ago period. Isuzu was second in terms of vehicles sold, 86,281, but its sales plunged 21.5% year on year. Honda sold 46,134 vehicles, up 14.9% from the first six months of last year.

The FTI’s Automotive Industry Club said that all manufacturers of one-tonne pickup trucks (Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan, and Mitsubishi) saw sales fall in the first half of the year due to declining demand.

It said one electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer made it into the top 10 in terms of sales: Great Wall Motor, which was 10th with sales of 6,222 vehicles in the six month period, up 19% year on year.

Narong Sritalayon, managing director of Great Wall Motor Thailand, said the sales increase reflects growing confidence in Chinese EVs.

Popular models among Thai customers are Ora Good Cat (2,600 units sold), Haval H6 (2,051 units sold), and Haval Jolion (1,571 units sold), he said.

Narong added that Great Wall Motor plans to introduce nine more EV models over the next three years.

Meanwhile, Rever Automotive Ltd, the importer of BYD EVs from China, said BYD had the most registered EVs in Thailand in the first half of the year.

With 11,168 units being registered, BYD EVs are leading the market. Neta V, another Chinese manufacturer, was second with 5,955 units registered this year.

BYD is building its first manufacturing facility in Thailand at WHA Industrial Estate in Rayong province, aiming to produce 150,000 EVs per year from 2024.

Source : THE NATION THAILAND

Koh Tao of Surat Thani province saw a record number of daily tourist arrivals last week, while nearby Koh Samui expects nearly 30,000 visitors from hotel bookings this month.

Koh Tao’s tourist organization reported that 3,106 tourists arrived to the island via boats on July 28, setting a new one-day record for the island. The increase in arrivals corresponded with the start of a six-day government holiday ending on August 2.

Provincial Governor Wichuwat Jinto explained that around 90% of the visitors were foreign tourists who will travel to Koh Phangan for the famous Full Moon Party, held at Hat Rin Beach on August 3.

Neighboring Koh Samui meanwhile reported that the number of tourists arriving through the island’s airport exceeded 141,400 for the month of July. Authorities expect that another 30,000 visitors will visit the island this month based on hotel reservations, bringing total visitors to the island by air to around 171,800.

In response to growing demand, Ratchaporn Poonsawat, President of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said the association has requested airlines to boost the number of daily flights, as limited flights have led to cancellations for many people who made advance room reservations.

This proactive measure aims to prepare for the anticipated influx of tourists during the upcoming peak season, which is expected to generate around 5 billion baht for the island’s economy during the period.

Source : NATIONAL NEWS BUREAU OF THAILAND

Rice exporters in Thailand and Vietnam are re-negotiating prices on sales contracts for around half a million metric tons for August shipments, two trade sources said, as India's ban has tightened global supplies.

Exporters are rushing to cover rice supplies from farmers who have raised prices following a surge in the world market, putting millions of dollars worth of deals at risk.

Rice farmers and exporters who had bought shipments in advance are set to gain from tightening world supplies, while buyers are likely to lose despite booking cargoes before India's announcement of ban as sellers renegotiate contracts to get higher prices.

Rice importers have no choice but to pay higher rates as sellers will default on contracts, given the substantial increase in prices of the staple, traders said.

India late last month banned white rice exports amid uncertainty over domestic production, heightening food supply worries among importers of the staple in Asia and Africa.

"Prices have gone up since India banned exports and it is difficult for suppliers to fulfil contracts signed at lower prices," said one Singapore-based trader, with direct knowledge of talks.

Thailand and Vietnam, the world's No. 2 and 3 exporters respectively, are estimated to ship more than one million metric tons of rice in August. India is the world's biggest rice exporter accounting for around 40% of global supplies.

Global prices of key rice varieties shipped worldwide have climbed by about $80 per metric ton since India imposed the ban on July 20, they said.

Thailand's 5% broken rice prices climbed to $625 per metric ton, versus $545 around two weeks ago, while similar variety from Vietnam has risen to $590 a metric tone as compared with $515-$525.

"The current prices are way higher than the contracted prices," said one trader in Ho Chi Minh City. "The export price surge has resulted in a sharp rise in domestic paddy prices. Several traders are now rushing to sped up their purchases from farmers."

While large exporting houses are likely to fulfil contracts, smaller trading companies are expected to default on shipments, traders said.

Importers, including the Philippines, are likely to seek direct deals with governments of exporting countries to ensure critical food supplies.

The Philippines will boost its inventory of rice, including imports, with the government encouraging private traders to ramp up their purchases, a senior agriculture official said on Tuesday.

Source : REUTERS