Thailand’s proposal for a five-year master plan to improve mainland Southeast Asia consisting of Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR and Vietnam has been well received by leaders of participating nations. The long-term outline, was announced by Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit held in Bangkok last week.

Thailand is becoming an oasis of monetary policy stability as other emerging markets scramble to raise interest rates.The country’s Finance Ministry anticipates that borrowing costs will be left at 1.5 percent this year, said Kulaya Tantitemit, a spokeswoman and an inspector general at the ministry. While an increase is possible in 2019, it won’t be steep, she said.“It wouldn’t be aggressive,” Kulaya said in an interview Wednesday, referring to a potential tightening next year.

Ever since the military junta gained power in 2014, it has promised on numerous occasions that democracy will return to Thailand and fresh elections will be held. Four years since the installation of a military government known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), elections have yet to be held and citizens there are losing patience. Pro-democracy protests calling for the end of military rule and fresh elections have increased in frequency and in crowd size.

A surprise surge in Thailand’s economic growth could sway the country’s military government to stick to a plan for fresh elections early next year.Rebounding agricultural output and more traditional drivers such as exports and tourism helped propel gross domestic product growth to a five-year high of 4.8 percent last quarter.

Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been colonised. It is perhaps a testament to the strength and resilience of the country in doing away with any foreign interference on its shores. However, Thailand has had interactions with colonial powers before, as can be seen when the United States of America (US) established relations with then Siam in 1818. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which formalised diplomatic relations, was also signed by both countries in 1833.

A new set of laws governing cryptocurrencies has been introduced in Thailand. According to the government, the new laws aren’t intended as a blanket ban on cryptocurrencies but serve to regulate such digital assets and tokens while protecting investors from the uncertainties of the cryptocurrency market. This new piece of legislation will also come down hard on the illicit use of cryptocurrency, especially in money laundering, tax evasion and unauthorised transactions.

It is irrefutable that rice is the staple food of Southeast Asia. This love affair with the seed of the grass species, oryza sativa is not only rooted in the tangible world but has its own mystical underpinnings to it. Such a relationship is observed through the worshipping of the goddess of rice, fertility, and wealth, Dewi Sri, by communities in what is now modern-day Indonesia, prior to the advent of Islam.

The seaside province of Rayong, located on Thailand’s eastern gulf coast is well known for its tranquil holiday beaches, crystal clear waters and a dazzling selection of fresh tropical fruits from nearby fruit orchards. The picturesque town is the perfect place for a weekend’s escapade – 180 kilometres from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or just a two and half hour drive away. However, Rayong may not be a getaway from the fast-paced urban lifestyle for much longer.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd recently announced that they will invest an additional US$2 billion into the Lazada Group. It is believed that this move by Alibaba is to counter Amazon’s plans of expanding its market to this region which has over 600 million potential customers. The American e-commerce giant officially launched a membership programme named Prime in Singapore in December, 2017.

Last year marked a significant milestone for renewable energy in Thailand where a total of 3 GW of solar installations were deployed in the country. This amounts to 50% of the 2036 target under the country’s current 20-year energy roadmap.Thailand’s share in solar energy exceeds 60% of total installed capacity in the Southeast Asian region, followed by the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.