AIS partners with top business news networks
The company has announced new partnerships with world-renowned business news networks, including Bloomberg Television, Fox Business and Fox News Channel, aligning with its strategic move to cater to Thai audiences seeking timely and comprehensive access to economic, financial, capital market, investment and international political news, as well as in-depth expert analysis from across the globe.
Customers who subscribe to the Play Family package on AIS PLAY -- starting from 119 baht a month -- can enjoy this content across all devices: smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and the AIS Playbox set-top box.
Bloomberg Television provides global business, finance and market news, with expert hosts covering various regions including Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
The channel offers neutral, in-depth reporting and accurate real-time updates from around the world.
Fox News Channel delivers comprehensive news coverage, analysis, and opinion with a diversity of opinions.
As the top-rated television news network in the US for over 20 consecutive years, Fox News offers new perspectives to Thai viewers.
Fox Business is a dedicated financial news channel providing real-time market updates across multiple platforms, with a strong focus on Wall Street and other major markets.
Based in New York -- the business capital of the world -- Fox Business delivers insights that directly impact viewers' financial lives.
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Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Tariff of 19% dubbed 'good news'
Despite great relief following the announcement of a 19% US tariff rate on Thai exports on Friday, the business sector remains fraught with concerns, particularly over the plight of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the agricultural sector. WAKE-UP CALL Piti Tantakasem, chief executive of TMBThanachart Bank, posted on Friday on his Facebook page that the tariff agreements the US is pursuing globally are reshaping the trade landscape from one based on free trade to a model of conditional trade, with a clear effort to exclude China from international supply chains. In this new scenario, the traditional rules of global trade will no longer apply, he said. Regarding Thailand's agricultural sector, which has long been a tool used in domestic politics, Mr Piti said it faces serious challenges from global powers with fully integrated, high-tech agricultural systems, capable of penetrating even the most entrenched political protections. "If Thailand sees the '19% deal' as a victory and is content with it, this could be 'The Beginning of the End'. But if we take it as a wake-up call to rethink and reform, then this marks 'The New Beginning'," he wrote. Mr Piti emphasised the need for Thailand to re-strategise by shifting the focus of the Board of Investment (BoI). Rather than simply measuring foreign direct investment, the BoI should prioritise building and enhancing national capabilities. He argued that Thailand's manufacturing sector must evolve, from being the "factory of the world" to developing innovative products that are uniquely Thai. Mr Piti urged Thailand to strengthen its domestic supply chains and promote authentic Thai goods to gain a competitive edge in government procurement, meet private sector demand and drive domestic consumption. He also called for clearer distinctions between legitimate businesses and grey-market enterprises, encouraging support for Thai companies that uphold good governance and social responsibility. "This is an opportunity to change, rethink and reform Thailand. This is a new beginning to make Thailand relevant again," said Mr Piti. SUPPORT MEASURES Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Board of Trade, expressed optimism about Thailand's competitiveness in the region, bolstered by tariff rates now aligned with other Southeast Asian nations. However, he emphasised the urgent need for government measures to support Thai entrepreneurs in adapting to the new US tariff regime. These measures should focus on advancing technology, financing, marketing and trade innovation to help businesses penetrate new markets, said Mr Poj. He also urged Thailand to heed the 40% transshipment rate, warning of penalties if Thai exports are found to violate it. Certain Thai products may face increased scrutiny and Mr Poj called for clearer definitions of regional value content across various product categories. In parallel, he called for the government to formulate strategies to manage rising imports from the US, especially in sectors that may be vulnerable to increased competition. "The chamber believes further negotiations can secure more favourable terms," said Mr Poj. "We hope Team Thailand continues to advocate strongly for the interests of Thai businesses." He also advised exporters to promptly adjust their shipping schedules and cost structures to mitigate the impact of the new tariffs. The private sector stands ready to collaborate with the government, especially in supporting industries likely to be affected by import shifts under evolving regional value chains, said Mr Poj. TOUGH TASKS AHEAD Thai entrepreneurs need to enhance their competitiveness to brace for intensifying competition despite the agreement on a lower tariff rate on Thai exports similar to regional peers, said the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). While the months-long negotiation with US authorities ended, Thai manufacturers that export to the US need to adapt to the new tariff rules set by the Trump administration. "It is good news amid challenges," said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI. The 19% tariff is acceptable because none of the Southeast Asian exporting nations gains an advantage for shipments to the US, he said. However, entrepreneurs with profit margins of less than 10% need to do more homework, said Mr Kriengkrai. "These manufacturers need to reduce costs, increase productivity and talk with their trading partners to avoid passing the financial burden on to consumers," he said. Other companies with high margins should not be significantly affected by the tariffs, said Mr Kriengkrai. Though changes in US policy are expected to disrupt trade, Thai entrepreneurs should take this as an opportunity to lift their competitiveness, he said. One concern is the influx of products redirected to Asian markets due to US tariffs, hampering manufacturers in the region, said an executive in the electrical appliance sector who requested anonymity. Thai manufacturers are advised to adopt more technologies to enhance production processes and reduce costs, said Mr Kriengkrai. "We also need to seek alternative markets other than the US by forging new partnerships," he said. The FTI asked the government to help businesses access financial sources at a time when they face costlier exports. Thai farmers also need help if the government is allowing more imports of US crops in exchange for the 19% tariff rate, said Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry. BURDEN FOR SMES Supree Thongpetch, chairman of the Thai Small and Medium Enterprise Council, which represents 80 member associations, said more than 2 million Thai SMEs that export to the US will face challenges based on the new tariff. He said many of these small businesses rely on online platforms such as eBay and Amazon to sell their products, often avoiding import duties since they typically export in smaller quantities. Their products range from maternity and baby clothing to aroma and spa items. The US currently applies low tariffs or exemptions for certain goods with existing purchase orders. However, the increase to a 19% tariff could put these businesses at a disadvantage as they may struggle with rising costs and lose their competitiveness, said Mr Supree.
Bangkok Post
8 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Five pillars for the digital economy
Thailand must reinforce five strategic pillars — technology, SME participation, digital skills and talent, financial inclusion and innovation, and cybersecurity and data governance — to secure long-term, sustainable growth in its digital economy, according to Maneerut Anulomsombut, chief executive of Sea (Thailand). Speaking on the topic 'Unlocking Thailand's Potential: Digital Ecosystems for Sustainable Growth' at the 2025 Bangkok Post Forum, Ms Maneerut said Thailand is among the three fastest-growing digital economies in Southeast Asia, alongside Indonesia and Vietnam. She highlighted four core sectors driving this growth: e-commerce, online travel, online media and transport/food delivery. E-commerce tops the table, accounting for 56% of Thailand's gross merchandise value (GMV), bolstered by frequent purchases and the rise of video commerce. Over 40% of consumers now rely on video content to guide their purchases, with some sellers reporting exponential growth: one saw orders multiply 84 times in a single day through video commerce. This boom also fuels demand for logistics and fulfilment, where rapid delivery is becoming standard, said Ms Maneerut. Online media, particularly gaming and local content, accounts for 13% of the digital economy. With esports now recognised as an official sport in Thailand, locally developed games will be featured at the 2025 SEA Games. Ms Maneerut described digital content as a powerful form of soft power, helping promote Thai culture and festivals globally. Digital payments also play a pivotal role. Thailand's gross transaction value (GTV) stood at $141 billion (4.6 trillion baht) in 2024 and is expected to reach $310 billion by 2030. Services like ShopeePay and Scan & Pay help ensure seamless digital transactions both online and offline. Despite global challenges, Ms Maneerut sees opportunities for transformation. 'Thailand's digital economy is still in its early phase,' she said, calling for urgent focus on five key areas: technology, SME participation, digital skills development, financial inclusion and cybersecurity. Technology must be applied strategically to support core sectors such as tourism, hospitality and manufacturing, she said. Generative AI and research and development can enhance service quality and productivity, but solutions must fit Thailand's specific context rather than copy global trends. SME participation is vital, as small and medium-sized enterprises make up 99.5% of all businesses and employ 71% of the workforce. Yet only 3.4% are considered digital champions, according to a 2023 survey by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency. Shopee, the e-commerce flagship of Singapore-based Sea, has been offering tools and training to help SMEs sell online and expand internationally, but more work is needed to close the gap. According to Ms Maneerut, Thailand ranks 37th in the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2024. She called for more investment in education and practical, business-driven tech skills to keep pace with the AI era.
Bangkok Post
8 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Tariff deal shows Thais ready for ‘new world order'
Economic and trade analysts have warned of a sluggish economy later this year as the impact of the 19% tariff rate imposed on Thailand by the United States takes hold. Nonetheless, there are silver linings as it could spur the country to diversify and be more innovative in order to stay relevant and competitive in the face of the overall contraction of global and US trade, experts said. The 19% tariff rate announced by President Donald Trump this week was lower than expected and would help Thailand avoid a technical recession, according to Amonthep Chawla, chief economist at CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT). A technical recession occurs when a country's gross domestic product (GDP) contracts for at least two consecutive quarters. 'The US 19% reciprocal tariff on Thai exports is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Thai products. Sectors that will benefit include electronics, auto parts, tyres, processed foods and mobile phone components,' Dr Amonthep said on Friday on the sidelines of the 2025 Bangkok Post Forum panel discussion on 'Positioning Thailand in the New Global Economy: Trade, Investment and Strategic Resilience'. 'However, Thai export growth is still projected to decline in the second half of the year due to a broader slowdown in US imports — resulting from earlier stockpiling — and a weakening US economy driven by rising inflation,' he added. Dr Amonthep also noted that the better-than-expected tariff rate would likely encourage more foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand. He foresees more firms seeking to relocate production from China to Thailand, reducing direct competition with Vietnam and Indonesia. Industries such as electrical appliances, batteries and auto parts are expected to benefit the most. According to Dr Amonthep, Thai businesses will also gain from lower input costs due to reduced tariffs on US imports, including pharmaceuticals, food products, animal feed, corn, soybeans and more — supporting investment in these sectors. Thailand's economic outlook is expected to remain subdued, however, due to structural challenges, including an ageing population, declining competitiveness, and rising debt levels across public, corporate and household sectors, said Dr Amonthep. The US tariffs are expected to further erode the competitiveness of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As a result, the government should adopt targeted measures to support vulnerable SMEs, he said. Nalinee Taveesin, President of the Thailand Trade Representative Office, said the government is preparing targeted support for SMEs and farmers likely to be affected by the new trade barriers. 'Despite challenges such as economic security concerns, US-China tensions and supply chain disruptions, Thailand remains resilient and ready to move forward,' she said. The new tariff rate could be interpreted as 'good news' as it is likely to encourage Thai exporters to pursue untapped markets to make up the shortfall. Thailand is currently pursuing free trade agreements (FTAs) with the European Union and South Korea, and is also working towards the Asean–Canada agreement. Recently, the country signed FTAs with Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) ahead of the expected US hikes. In addition to enhancing regional ties, Thailand is actively expanding into untapped markets in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and other emerging regions, she said. Pipope Chokvathana, vice-chairman of the Economic and Academic Affairs Department at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), has warned that Thailand will face double competition with goods from both China and the US flooding in amid the new US tariffs. 'In this so-called new world order, we woke up to this tariff news. Likely the GDP (growth) forecast for 2025 would be 2% if the tariff was at 10%,' Mr Pipope said. 'If the tariff is 19%, then GDP growth this year would be 1.5%. This picture is not totally positive. 'Ever since China faced higher tariffs, they have been planning to reduce exports to the US, and when it comes to competitiveness, a lot of products from China are coming to Thailand. So it becomes Chinese versus Thai goods,' he explained. 'And likely later, there are going to be floods of US goods to Thailand as well.' Mr Pipope said Thai manufacturers should strive to stay relevant and be innovative to deal with the dual threat posed by these superpowers. As the market evolves, companies must be agile and responsive to consumer preferences and international economic conditions. 'The FTI's guidelines are go digital/AI, go innovation, go green and go global,' said Mr Pipope. 'We need to get producers to learn how to use new technology, integrate it into the system and do it quicker, to increase our productivity. 'We need to diversify the market. The world order is changing.'
