Human rights are rights that are fundamental to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, or religion. However, due to the diverse cultures and varying political structures in Southeast Asia, tackling human rights issues remains a major hurdle for the region.
The global economy has continued to strengthen in 2018 and this trend is expected to continue into 2019 as well. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that some 120 economies, which accounts for three quarters of the world’s GDP, “…has seen a pickup in growth in year-on-year terms in 2017”. Countries like Germany, Japan, Korea and the United States also saw higher growth in the third quarter of 2017 as opposed to the projection made in October 2016.
After stating that elections will be held at the end of the year, the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand recently voted to amend an election law that will most likely delay the general elections by 90 days. This means that elections would take place in February 2019 at the earliest. The amended clause is part of a larger bill amending rules for lower house elections. Under the Thai constitution, elections must be held within 150 days after all electoral laws comes into effect.
Thailand’s start-up growth comes hot on the heels of strong start-up progress in Singapore and Indonesia. For the Thai government, driving Thailand towards digitisation under the Thailand 4.0 initiative is key. Foreign investors too are looking in on the potential in the region.
This year, the healthcare industry in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at 11.1%, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan which makes it one of the fastest growing regions for healthcare in the world. On average, the global healthcare economy has an annual growth rate of 4.8%, the report added.This progressive growth is powered by a larger adoption of technology, innovative healthcare access programmes and delivery of care in and out of the hospital.
In the past couple of weeks there has been talk regarding the legalising of marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes in Thailand. Based on local news reports, both legislators and state officials have been voicing either their support or disdain towards this issue. However, until today there has been no confirmation regarding the possible legalising of marijuana cultivation.
In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes wrote in an essay titled “Economic Possibilities For Our Grandchild” that with the technological advancements of the future, people could be working as little as 15 hours a week. Just like the industrial revolution, many thought the introduction of automation in workplaces in the 21st century would revolutionise labour – freeing workers from long hours at the factory and spend more time on leisure activities.
The future of Thailand’s industrial sector lies in robotics and automation.According to Varin Rodphotong, from the Centre of Robotics Excellence (CoRE), robots will significantly help improve the competitiveness of domestic industries in Thailand.
The recent announcement by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism & Sports it had welcomed 35 million international tourists on its shores in 2017 is good news for its businesses but has given rise to doubts on Thailand's ability to sustain increasing tourist volumes in the short term. One of the main challenges it faces is limitations to its transportation infrastructure.
High level executives, investors or professionals in industries of the future like aerospace, automation and biofuels can now live and work in Thailand under a new visa scheme called the SMART visa.
Thailand raised its minimum wage nationwide for the first time in five years, as the country’s military government tries to tackle lingering income inequality.The wage will climb from April by 5 baht (16 cents) to 22 baht per day, depending on location, Jarin Chakkaphark, permanent secretary for labor, said in a briefing late Wednesday in Bangkok.
While Thailand’s economy has not been rosy for the past few years, its economic outlook seems brighter in 2018. According to a Bloomberg report, the predicted economic boom will be the product of a “global trade recovery and a flood of visitors from China.” Apart from that, the end of King Bhumibol’s mourning period will also fortify consumer spending, as retailers and hotels had scaled down promotions during the entire year.
