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The Memo is published weekdays - Cambodia (every Monday), Myanmar (Tuesday), Laos (Wednesday), Vietnam (Thursday) and Thailand (Friday). The Thailand edition is free in its entirety; the others usually abbreviated for non-paid subscribers.

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State Railway Sues CP Consortium for 13.3B THB

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is suing the CP Group-led Asia Era One consortium for 13.3 billion baht because of the stalled three-airport high-speed rail project. It is asking for a 10.67 billion baht payment for investment rights that was due in 2021 in addition to 2.66 billion baht in interest. The SRT is also trying to get a billion baht apiece from project guarantors Bangkok Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. Asia Era One has been trying to get out of the 224 billion baht contract, saying its lenders no longer consider the project viable. The railway authorities have been unmoved by this sad tale say the consortium needs to honor the deal. The line was meant to open in 2023, but as things stand today, it’s unlikely it could be put into service until 2031 at the earliest.

Read more: Bangkok Post

Cabinet Approves 10.5B THB for Flood Relief

The cabinet has approved 10.5 billion baht in flood relief, in addition to the 5 billion plus baht that’s already been disbursed. The new approval includes a raft of solutions including debt payment suspensions, cheap loans, tax relief and customs duty exemptions. Water is going down in most areas but still remains in parts of Bangkok and 22 other provinces. The floods resulted in the deaths of 80 people and directly impacted about 1.8 million. With more rain expected for the East and South over the next several weeks, southern reservoirs that are more than four-fifths full are getting ready for early discharge.

Read more: Reuters (relief package), Nation Thailand (cabinet measures), Thai PBS World (flood toll), Asian News Network (reservoir releases)

Finance Minister Shelves 1,000 THB Departure Tax

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has shelved a 1,000-baht tax that was being considered for every international departure. He’s keen to protect tourism as the busy fourth quarter approaches, and says that economic uncertainty and rising airline costs related to the Middle East war are weighing heavily. He made no mention that the idea was ill-advised to begin with. Boosters of the tax, who apparently did not understand how price impacts demand, claimed that it would raise 45.9 billion baht, but travel agents, who better understand price sensitivity, said it could cost the tourism industry up to 150 billion baht a year. The separate 450-baht entry fee remains unchanged.

Read more: Bangkok Post (tax decision), Nation Thailand (tourism concerns), Khaosod English (industry estimates)

Finance Ministry Wants 30% Tax on Imported EVs

The Finance Ministry will ask the cabinet to triple the excise tax on fully imported EVs to at least 30 percent beginning on New Year’s Day, 2027. Locally assembled cars would require a lower tariff, particularly any that are built with substantial local content. Auto industry representative Suwat Supakandechakul came out in opposition to a grace period because he fears a rush of “panic” buying, and fears that struggling import brands could quit the market. Buyers are anyways expected to be aggressive buyers going into the upcoming Motor Expo out of a fear of price increases.

Read more: Thai Enquirer

PM Courts Thammanat's Party Ahead of No-Confidence Debate

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is courting Thammanat Prompao's Kla Tham Party ahead of an expected no-confidence debate. Kla Tham’s 58 MPs would give the coalition a commanding 350 seats. Anutin insists his friendship with convicted drug-trafficker Thammanat has “nothing to do with politics,” but his appearance in a group photo at a Kla Tham MP's birthday party in Parliament suggests otherwise. The government wants four days for the no-confidence debate starting October 27; the opposition thinks that five days would be more appropriate.

Read more: Thai Enquirer

FM Asks China to Ease Up on Scam Warnings

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is asking the Chinese Embassy to soften its travel warnings to avoid/ prevent what he says is a needless panic. The embassy has been warning Chinese nationals about fake job offers after several people went missing, with some of them reportedly detained or lured to the Myanmar border. Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul is asking for a formal explanation as well since says he says the warning is going to (or already is) hurt(ing) Chinese visitor numbers.

Read more: Nation Thailand (diplomatic response), Thai PBS World (missing travelers)

Oppo MP, Ex-Poll Official on Sedition Charges

People's Party MP Parit Wacharasindhu and former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn are two of eight people facing charges including sedition and “membership of a secret society.” The case is based on an alleged attempt to decode ballot barcodes during a Bangkok election rerun in February. Observers reportedly photographed marked ballots to test whether it was possible to use the codes to reveal individual votes, a privacy concern that’s already been at the center of several legal challenges. The sedition and secret society charges come with up to seven years in prison, but the Justice Ministry is weighing if if makes sense to send the case to the Department of Special Investigation.

Read more: Prachatai English

Bitget Plans to Buy Loss-Making Crypto Exchange Weeks After Breach

Bitget is planning to buy licensed crypto exchange GMO-Z.com Cryptonomics not long after a breach that the company says impacted about $388 million in assets. GMO Internet and its local subsidiary are unloading nearly all their shares for an undisclosed price. The exchange lost 74.16 million baht from operations in 2025, and the deal will close on October 31 if regulators give their blessing.

Read more: Crypto News

Customs Inspects Every Scrap Container, Proposes Import Ban

Customs officers have been opening every container that’s been declared to contain metal scrap so that they can find any electronic waste that’s been hidden too densely for X-ray scanners to see. Scrap steel, aluminum and copper imports were reported at 2.76 million tonnes from January through September; the Customs Department seized 10,029 tonnes of illegally imported electronic waste in the fiscal year ending in September and has sent more than half of that total back to where it came from. The department wants a see ban on ferrous, copper, aluminum and rubber scrap imports.

Read more: Bangkok Post (inspection drive), Metal (import figures)

Commerce Ministry Nominee Checks Extends to Waste Companies

The Commerce Ministry is looking into another 44 waste companies in Prachin Buri after earlier checks found four firms that are believed to have been using local nominee shareholders. The inquiry began after media reports made claims of pollution and nominee ownership at an area electronic waste recycling factory. Provincial officials have sent evidence about the first four firms, including their suspected nominees' financial transactions, to law enforcement. Nationwide, 2,863 waste businesses reportedly have foreign shareholders.

Read more: Nation Thailand

Minister Orders Patch to PHP Flaw

Higher Education Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat has ordered universities and medical school hospitals to patch a newly found PHP flaw, and has told them to put patient records and student databases first. The recently discovered bugs could let attackers take control of unpatched systems. The Personal Data Protection Committee is telling organizations to install updated (patched) PHP versions, review logs and to implement their breach procedures if they discover that data may have leaked. No local breach has been confirmed as of press time.

Read more: Nation Thailand (patch order), Bangkok Post (flaw discovery)

Gov’t Holds Cambodia to Six Maritime Measures

The government says Cambodia needs to run all six confidence building measures proposed by the Hague conciliation commission to completion rather than just picking the convenient ones. The measures call for restraint and an end to “misleading” public statements. Officials say the Permanent Court of Arbitration has not set a date for a third meeting, which is likely to take place in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more: Nation Thailand (government position), UA News (conciliation process)

AWC Inks Chiang Mai Tram Deal

Asset World Corp has signed a wide-ranging Chiang Mai development agreement that will be centered on a tram service to be named “Chiang Mai Tram by Lannatique.” Local officials (apparently bereft of any historical context) are claiming that it will be the country's first. No announcement have yet documented andy of the expected costs, routes or timelines.

Read more: Business Insider Markets

That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.

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The Memo is published weekdays - Cambodia (every Monday), Myanmar (Tuesday), Laos (Wednesday), Vietnam (Thursday) and Thailand (Friday). The Thailand edition is free in its entirety; the others usually abbreviated for non-paid subscribers.

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Floods Kill 76, Cost Industry 18 Billion Baht

Floods have killed 76 people since mid-September, including 25 in the single province (just to the south of Khao Yai National Park) of Prachin Buri. Water is starting to recede, but Bangkok and 20 provinces are still flooded in parts, mostly over the Central Plains. Nearly 250,000 families have been affected in Pathum Thani, and the disaster department says it has paid out 4.12 billion baht in aid to more than 540,000 families. The Industry Ministry estimates that 4,635 businesses have lost a cumulative 18.21 billion baht, almost all that financial damage centered in Chonburi.

Read more: Bangkok Post (death tolls), Ua News (Bangkok flooding), Thai Enquirer (industry losses)

TG Suspends CEO After 25k Bags Stranded

Thai Airways' board has suspended chief executive Chai Eamsiri after flooding resulted in 25,000 stranded bags and more than 200 flight cancellations. Despite the “suspension,” Chai says he’s been more-or-less fired. Director and former PTTEP executive Samrit Samniang is acting as CEO for now. Early investigations point to floods keeping about 200 employees from work, as well as the late application of emergency procedures and a slow call for backups. Police (!) are investigating and have 30 days to come back with their report. The board also says that it is taking this opportunity to review outsourced baggage and ground operations contracts. The airline says passengers will be compensated automatically and delayed bags are able to be forwarded on any carrier.

Read more: Bangkok Post

2027 Budget Flat, Cuts to Transport and Farming

The government has approved a 3,788 billion baht budget for fiscal year 2027, just slightly (0.2%) more than 2026’s number, and the second near-flat budget in a row. Transport and agriculture spending will be reduced; military and police spending is holding steady. Health, education and welfare get modest increases, but there are no big new programs. The budget projects a deficit of 3.8 percent of GDP. Public debt was about two-thirds of GDP at the end of March, still in relatively safe territory.

Read more: The Diplomat

CB Sees 3% Growth Within Three Years

Growth could return to about 3 percent within three years if structural problems ease, Bank of Thailand Deputy Governor Piti Disyatat says. That might be his way of saying that growth will not return to about 3 percent within three years. Nonetheless, he expects growth of at least 2.3 percent this year, slowing to 1.8 percent through 2027 before (possibly) finding a firmer footing. Piti struck a hawkish note on the 1 percent policy rate, saying another cut is hard to imagine without a major shock because the rate is already historically low. The next policy review is due October 28.

Read more: Reuters

Tourism Industry Fights 1,000 THB Departure Tax

Travel agents are working to get Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas to drop a proposed 1,000-baht departure tax on all air travelers. The Tourism Council wants the government to consider the benefits of revenue against the damage to tourism. The hotels association says existing charges and two proposed levies would cost a foreign visitor about 2,570 baht each (10,280 baht for a family of four!), making Thailand less competitive as a destination. The draft also has a mechanism to allow the government raise the departure tax to as much as 5,000 baht. Consultation closes October 29.

Read more: UA News

EU Trade Deal Expected by EOY

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun is sounding confident that an EU trade deal will be wrapped up by the end of the year. She says only politically sensitive questions about opening markets are still remaining open after negotiators were able to agree about rules of origin, energy and sanitary measures in the 10th round. The EU was the country's fourth-largest trading partner last year, with more than $43 billion in trade.

Read more: Thai PBS World

Army Disputes KH’s UN Claim 20K Can't Go Home

The army is pushing back on Cambodia's claim (at a UN refugee meeting) that more than 20,000 Cambodians are still unable to return home after December's border fighting. Cambodian Ambassador Sovann Ke said about 650,000 people were displaced at the height of the conflict, but Thai army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree says the disputed figure includes people who took temporary shelter. Thai officials count about 4,600 people from to three settlements in Sa Kaeo. The army says the settlements are on Thai territory, a claim Cambodia disputes.

Read more: Nation Thailand

IMF, WB and BOT Launch Anti-Scam Blueprint

Digital scams cause an estimated $1 trillion a year in losses worldwide. The IMF, World Bank Group and the Bank of Thailand have come up with and launched the “Bangkok Blueprint,” which is a plan for preventing fraud and quickly freezing money that’s being moved around by transnational gangs. The government is also using a tool called “Connect the Dots,” which is a central hub that brings together agency data to spot patterns of scamming. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas is putting the project forward as a cross-border answer to borderless crime.

Read more: Asian News Network

Police Block Anti-IMF March and Scuffle Over Banner

Police with batons blocked anti-IMF and World Bank marchers near the Rama IV intersection, keeping them away from the meetings being held at the nearby Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Crowd estimates ranged from about 600 to more than 1,000 protesters. After negotiations, the marchers pulled back to a designated area nearby, but a scuffle broke out on a pedestrian overpass when about 10 protesters tried to unfurl a banner. The protest network accuses police of using excessive force to seize the banner and says the route and display had been agreed to in advance.

Read more: Bangkok Post (protesters), Nation Thailand (police response), Khaosod English (assembly law)

Swiss Foundation to Buy $120M of Carbon Credits

Switzerland's KliK Foundation is expected to buy about $120 million in carbon credits once both governments give their approval. The purchase is an expansion to an existing Bangkok program that has already put more than 2,000 electric buses into service. Swiss President Guy Parmelin and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also talked about how they could speed up their trade deal with EFTA.

Read more: Bangkok Post

Anutin Gives Allies Engraved Casio Watches

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is giving cabinet ministers, senior officials and allies Casio watches engraved with his name. The model retails for less than $60, and recipients are comparing notes on metal and resin bands. The gift of watches is an interesting one, as timepieces have played an inflammatory role in recent political times. Anutin has reported 22 luxury watches worth more than 60 million baht in his mandated asset declaration, and former deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan was involved (but cleared) in a 2017 graft probe into 22 wildly expensive watches in his possession. Government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises promises that the gifts come with no political signal.

Read more: NDTV (recipients), Hindustan Times (purchase)

That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.

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The Memo is published weekdays - Cambodia (every Monday), Myanmar (Tuesday), Laos (Wednesday), Vietnam (Thursday) and Thailand (Friday). The Thailand edition is free in its entirety; the others usually abbreviated for non-paid subscribers.

Please go to https://www.mekongmemo.com/account to select country editions you would like to receive without affecting your overall subscription status.

Floods Stall Toyota and Four Other Carmakers

Floods have stopped production at five carmakers, including Toyota, with industrial damages so far estimated to be 6 billion baht ($178 million). A collapsed earthen embankment at Amata City Chonburi has resulted in the shuttering of 34 plants, more than 10 of them parts suppliers. Chinese and European brands are running normally on different supplier networks; most Japanese makers have been able to mostly get by so far, and remain little-affected. Assembly plants reportedly have parts through October 12, and Toyota is tentatively planning to restart full operations on October 11 or 12.

Read more: Reuters (damage estimate), The Star (Toyota restart), Yahoo Finance (affected carmakers)

Floods Kill 60, IMF Meeting ON, Egg Export OFF

Flooding since mid-September has resulted in the deaths of 60 people, including 19 in Prachinburi province. Flooding is ongoing in 27 of the nation’s 77 provinces. Bangkok, where four people have died, is busy cleaning up ahead of the IMF and World Bank meetings that are scheduled to run Monday, October 12 through Sunday, October 18, 2026. Separately, floods in Chachoengsao province, east of Bangkok, have killed about 3 million laying hens, forcing the government to ask egg firms to cut exports. The Department of Internal Trade also wants producers to hold the farm gate price at 4 baht an egg. Singapore was the buyer for nearly four-fifths of the 1.7 billion baht in eggs exported last year.

Read more: CNA (Prachinburi toll), ABC News (emergency funds), VnExpress (poultry)

Bank of Thailand in No Rush to Raise Rates

Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn says that he’s in no hurry to raise the 1 percent policy rate. The central bank now expects inflation to come in this year at around 2 percent, which is significantly lower that the number floated in its June forecast of 2.8 percent. Vitai said early assessments assumed flood damage would stay largely in Bangkok, but wider flooding could result in a more substantial economic blow.

Read more: Reuters

Anutin Targets November for US Trade Deal

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expects to sign a reciprocal trade agreement when Donald Trump swings through Asia in November. A recent letter from Trump placed the two sides at the final stages of talks, he told a Forbes conference in Singapore. The United States, Thailand’s largest export market, charges a 12.5 percent tariff on its goods and is considering an overcapacity case. Pitching investors on faster approvals and political stability, Anutin conceded that Thailand has fallen off investors' radar for years now.

Read more: CNA (tariff history), Bloomberg (investor pitch), The Diplomat (summit dates)

Household Debt 85% of GDP

Household debt stands at about 85 percent of GDP, down from recent peaks but still up there as one of Asia's highest ratios. The number of “buy now, pay later” accounts rocketed up from 620,000 in 2021 to 6.3 million in 2025. As an example of the woes faced by regular citizens, a Nonthaburi business owner owes about 12.1 million baht to formal and informal lenders and her business is losing 40,000 to 50,000 baht every month. The Bank of Thailand says a heavy debt burden could keep national growth below the economy's 2.7 percent potential (compare with Vietnam’s 10% targets). Only about 5 million of the country's 27 million borrowers are considered to be financially healthy enough to qualify for more credit.

Read more: Reuters (borrower profiles), Thailand Business News (consumer confidence)

Opposition Files Censure Against PM, 17 Ministers

The opposition has filed a censure motion against Anutin and 17 ministers from his Bhumjaithai Party. The unproven allegations contained in the motion include corruption, abuse of power and conflicts of interest. The Kla Tham Party, whose 56 MPs backed approval of the 3.788 trillion baht budget, has left the opposition whip group and declined to sign. Anutin shrugged off the challenge, saying the debate will be “no problem” for his government.

Read more: Nation Thailand (minister allegations), Nation Thailand (Natthaphong statements), The Star (Anutin response), The Star (Blue Regime), Thai Enquirer (pre-filing preview)

Revenue Dept Proposes 1,000 THB Departure Tax

The Revenue Department thinks it would be a good idea to charge air passengers 1,000 baht whenever they leave the country, regardless of nationality. Tickets bought before the law takes effect would be exempt, but no start date has been set (or even floated). Foreign tourists flying in could also be assessed a 450-baht entry fee from early 2027. Together with the existing 1,120-baht airport service charge, an eligible visitor could pay 2,570 baht just for the privilege of gracing the nation.

Read more: Nation Thailand (exempt passengers), Nation Thailand (land/sea exemption), Nation Thailand (combined 2,570 baht), Travelmole (tourist fee support)

Move to Extradite Refugee Journalist to China

Prosecutors have opened extradition proceedings based on Beijing’s allegations of extortion and bribery against Bai Zhaodong, a Chinese investigative reporter who is recognized by the United Nations as a bona fide refugee. The Criminal Court hearing came without notice the day before an expected ruling on whether his detention in Bangkok since January is legal. Bai has been moved to Bangkok Remand Prison and continues to say that plans to fight against extradition. The next hearing is set for January 25, 2027. Reporters Without Borders said the surprise proceeding was “scandalous.”

Read more: Bangkok Post (asylum status), RFI (court appearance), RSF (UN response)

UAE Trade Deal Talks Wrap Up

UAE trade minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Anutin said the two countries have finished negotiating a trade and investment pact. Non-oil trade reached $12.3 billion in 2025 and rose by about three-quarters in the first half of 2026. The pact still needs a legal and technical review before it can be signed.

Read more: Gulf News (signing timeline), ARN News Centre (trade figures)

Marriott Signs For 7 Hotels Including citizenM

Marriott International has signed a deal with FICO Corporation for seven hotels in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, for a total of 1,262 planned rooms. The agreement will bringing citizenM, Four Points Flex by Sheraton and Series by Marriott to the country for the first time. Bangkok is getting a 147-room citizenM on Sukhumvit 11; the largest property will be a 288-room JW Marriott Bangkok Sathorn.

Read more: Hotel Management Network

AIDS Hospice Founder Gets 50 Years for Embezzling Donations

Former monk Alongkot Poonmook, founder of the Wat Phra Bat Namphu AIDS hospice in Lopburi, and fundraiser Seksan Sapsubbsakul have been convicted of embezzlement and money laundering. The court handed them terms of hundreds of years, but the legal maximum cut each sentence to 50. They are being told that must repay more than 300 million baht, about $9 million, to the hospice.

Read more: AP News

That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.

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The Memo is published weekdays - Cambodia (every Monday), Myanmar (Tuesday), Laos (Wednesday), Vietnam (Thursday) and Thailand (Friday). The Thailand edition is free in its entirety; the others usually abbreviated for non-paid subscribers.

Please go to https://www.mekongmemo.com/account to select country editions you would like to receive without affecting your overall subscription status.

Bangkok Declared Disaster Zone After Record Rain

Bangkok's city government has declared the capital a disaster zone after some parts of the city got more than 330mm of rain (an amount that is normal for the whole of the month of September) in just four days. More than 80,000 residents are stranded in flooded homes and 5,901 people are staying in 234 shelters. Water officials are racing to try and drain the floodwater into the Gulf before another downpour. The Chao Phraya Dam is releasing 2,400 cubic meters a second, the Bhumibol and Sirikit dams are doing their best to hold back as much water as they can upstream. The Pa Sak Jolasid Dam is at 109 percent of capacity. The damage is currently estimated to be about 11 billion baht ($327 million) and climbing.

Read more: Reuters (flooding and damage), Nation Thailand (dam operations), NDTV (disaster declaration), The Guardian (rescue effort), The Guardian (residents stranded)

THAI Baggage Pileup Forces Concession Review

More than 10,000 bags piled up at Suvarnabhumi after a September 26 handling breakdown, in a snafu that left some passengers waiting as many as eight hours for their bags and causing some flights to depart without luggage. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat told the House that the ministry is reviewing penalties for baggage delays and asking whether Thai Airways should be allowed to keep its concession. The deal dates from the airline's years as a state enterprise and has not yet expired, so changing it could breach the contract, but it seems like it might be worth investigating.

Read more: Nation Thailand

Factory Output Index Adds AI and Data Centers

Industrial production grew much faster than expected and was reported to be just above 4% through August in the strongest showing since September 2022. The Industrial Economics Office responded with a heady upgrade, raising its 2026 factory output forecast from almost nothing to between 2.75% and 3.75%. The rise is in part a reflection of a revised production index that now counts AI hardware and data center equipment, which are sectors the government is pushing hard (see previous story). The manufacturing purchasing managers' index edged up to 54.3 in September from 53.8 in August.

Read more: Nation Thailand (output forecast), TradingView (August production), GuruFocus (index revision)

Cargill Puts $130 Million Into Regional Poultry

Cargill plans to spend $130 million over the coming 24 months to expand and improve efficiency of their poultry operations in Thailand and the Philippines. The existing Cargill plant in Saraburi is getting an automated cooked chicken line by 2028, an expansion that will increase total annual output to about 160,000 metric tons.

Read more: Food Processing

Foreign Funds Pull $635 Million From Bonds

Global funds pulled a net $635 million from local bonds in September, the biggest monthly exit in six months, as US Treasury yields climbed. Foreign investors also sold a net $781 million in stocks. The retreat is an awkward backdrop for Bangkok as it gets ready to host the IMF and World Bank annual meetings from October 12 to 18; more than 15,000 delegates are expected in the first return to Bangkok in 35 years.

Read more: Bloomberg (foreign outflows), Bangkok Post (annual meetings)

Court Clears Barcoded Ballots, Rerun Avoided

The Constitutional Court has dismissed 22 petitions challenging barcodes and QR codes that were on February's ballots in a 8 to 1 decision confirming that the markings didn’t violate voter secrecy. The decision heads off a rerun that could have cost more than 7 billion baht ($216 million) and leaves Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's coalition in office. Judges said tracing a vote would require matching ballots, stubs and voter lists that are kept by separate offices. Despite the decision, the court told the Election Commission to stop using any codes that connect ballots with results in future elections.

Read more: The Diplomat (court ruling), Prachatai English (judges' warning)

Infineon Opens $1.4B Chip Plant in Samut Prakan

German chipmaker Infineon has opened a semiconductor assembly and testing plant in Bang Bo, Samut Prakan, which the Board of Investment values at about $1.4 billion. The first phase has 30,000 square meters of cleanroom space and room to grow fivefold. Infineon says Bangkok could eventually become one of its largest assembly and testing hubs, but for the moment, the plant employs around 350 people (and that number might grow to 1,000 as production expands). Chief operating officer Alexander Gorski positioned the investment as protection against disruption in Malaysia, where Infineon has another site. Bangkok wants to collect $18 billion in semiconductor investments by 2030.

Read more: Bangkok Post (plant opening), Thailand Business News (investment value), MarketScreener (Infineon’s strategy), Developing Telecoms (production plans)

That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.

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Horton International is your premier partner for executive search in Southeast Asia. Whether you're a small startup or a global corporation, our reliable and effective recruiting solutions are tailored to meet your unique needs. With extensive experience and offices across the region, we excel at overcoming recruitment challenges and securing top talent for your organization.

Click here to learn how Horton can make your life easier.

The Memo is published weekdays - Cambodia (every Monday), Myanmar (Tuesday), Laos (Wednesday), Vietnam (Thursday) and Thailand (Friday). The Thailand edition is free in its entirety; the others usually abbreviated for non-paid subscribers.

Please go to https://www.mekongmemo.com/account to select country editions you would like to receive without affecting your overall subscription status.

Cabinet Approves $80 Billion Chip Strategy

The national semiconductor board has approved its first chip strategy, and it has a bold target of $80 billion in cumulative investment, $150 billion in annual revenue and 230,000 jobs by 2050. The plan will begin with assembly and packaging, then move to chip design and wafer fabrication, and eventually foresees a move into a domestic supply chain centered on photonics, power semiconductors and sensors. The Board of Investment says it already has $27.2 billion worth of applications for 879 projects. Infineon, for example, is opening its first local factory in Samut Prakan on October 1. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas is selling investors on a long runway. Oddly (might be nothing), the board pulled its announcement shortly after publication and then reposted it again with the same headline targets.

Read more: MarketScreener (tax incentives), Thailand Business News (workforce and Infineon)

Anutin Unwinds the Cannabis Law He Wrote

In a move that’s been anticipated for some time, cabinet has approved a bill that limits cannabis to medical use, with three-year licenses and a minimum age of 20 for a market that raked in $865 million during its first year of decriminalization. Shops already operating will be able to keep their licenses through 2028 but will then need to qualify as medical businesses, so that’s 10,000+ registered shops and grow sites that are now on notice. The Khao San Road business association expects more than half of local cannabis operators to close, as backpacker traffic is also sagging. The bill will next head to the House. This latest turn in the cannabis story is Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dismantling the policy he himself introduced as health minister in 2022.

Read more: Bangkok Post (Khao San), Yahoo News (licensing)

Cabinet Extends Relief, Weighs Solar Subsidies

Cabinet has approved a 43 billion baht relief package to extend the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment deal through November 30 and also increasing the October welfare card payments to 1,000 baht. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas says the extension could add 0.1 to 0.2 percent to growth. The government is using leftover emergency loan money. Opposition MP Sirikanya Tansakun argues that a separate 200 billion baht energy transition fund should be used to help farmers, fishers and transport workers. Officials are also considering a 50,000 baht household solar subsidy, which would initially be applied to up to a million homes. The prospect is already increasing demand as solar cell imports were up almost 90 percent through July to about $427 million; China supplied almost all of them.

Read more: Asian News Network (relief package), Thai Enquirer (funding debate), TV BRICS (solar plan)

DSI Sends 40k-Page Forex Case to Prosecutors

The Department of Special Investigation has sent prosecutors a dossier of 40,348 pages and naming 34 suspects, including People's Party MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu and actor Rattapoom "Film" Tokongsup, in an (alleged) foreign exchange scam and money laundering case. Both men turned themselves in voluntarily, and Pawoot's party says it will not do anything to protect him with parliamentary immunity. The DSI is questioning more than 28 million baht in income that it has connected to QRS Global, a company that’s accused of swindling victims. Pawoot denies the charges and says the money was the proceeds of “gold trading.” Supporters of Pawoot claim that the DSI is targeting him because he criticized the government's 1.6 billion baht TH-AI Passport project.

Read more: Bangkok Post

Thammanat's Casio Signals a Coalition Swap

Kla Tham's 58 MPs broke with the opposition whip to support the 2027 Budget Bill, all but announcing the coalition switch their leader, Thammanat Prompao, has been courting since August. Then came the timepiece switcharoo. Thammanat has been wearing a 1,900 baht Casio of the kind that Anutin gaves to Bhumjaithai ministers and Interior Ministry officials, furnished with the prime minister's name engraved in Thai and English, but was seen without it. Asked about coalition scuttlebutt in New York, Anutin played coy and said, "Calm down. We're in America, it's far away, and the signal doesn't reach here."

Read more: Thai Enquirer

Canada’s Valeura Finds Oil Near Manora Platform

Valeura Energy says its Manora-9 well and sidetracks found 334 feet of net oil pay in two fault blocks at the Suraphi prospect in the Gulf of Thailand. The Calgary-based operator believes the discovery could support a satellite platform connected to its Manora A facility and make a nearby third block AND the stranded Malida field easier to develop. Valeura is also funding a $25.6 million 3D seismic survey and part of PTTEP's historical expenses to buy its way into a 40 percent stake in two other blocks. The activity fits Bangkok's plan to open its 26th Andaman Sea petroleum bidding round before the end of the year, but a deadline for the round hasn’t been set yet.

Read more: Bangkok Post (Andaman bidding), Offshore (Suraphi discovery)

Maritime Talks Stall in Singapore

Three days of closed-door conciliation in Singapore resulted in statements so frosty that the two sides barely seemed to be sharing a room. Cambodia's Prak Sokhonn pitched trust-building, either by way of a proposed single maritime boundary treaty or joint development of Gulf resources. Thailand's Sihasak Phuangketkeow insisted on settling the boundary disputes first and rehashed his team’s grievances, including a leaked leaders' call, landmines that he said maimed Thai soldiers and rocket strikes that killed civilians. Cambodia once again called for 20,000 displaced villagers to be allowed to return home. Doesn’t look like this is going to resolve itself any time soon and no next-date was set for a follow-up meeting.

Read more: Prachatai English

Thai Travelers Pick China, Skip Seoul

Outbound travel was a record 13.06 million trips in 2025, about 11 percent more than 2024, and spending reached 559 billion baht. China was able to pull in nearly a quarter of all Thai trips abroad as visa-free entry, rail links to Kunming, snow towns and a friendly exchange rate all helped to make it an easy choice. Travelers to China spent roughly a quarter less per trip there than they did in Japan, which still collected more money per visitor from longer, pricier stays. South Korea was relegated to 13th place as arrivals fell about 14 percent to 328,000. South Korea has seen a spate of bad press from Thai visitors claiming mistreatment by Korean border officials.

Read more: Nation Thailand

Film Crews Spend $200 Million

Foreign productions were responsible for spending 6.52 billion baht (~$200 million), on 383 shoots between January and August. US productions were at the forefront of the spending, followed by those from the UK. Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chonburi, Samut Prakan and Phuket drew the most cameras. Tourism officials continue to work on courting more studios with a cash rebate of up to 30 percent -it’s been a focus of the government for some time now and seems to be bearing fruit.

Read more: IMDb (spending), Business Insider (studio campaign)

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Election Commission Clears Its Prime Minister

The Election Commission is sending 77 of 427 suspects in the Senate selection case to the Supreme Court, including 26 sitting senators. It cleared all 21 Bhumjaithai figures caught up in the case, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and party co-founder Newin Chidchob. The panel threw out testimony from former Bhumjaithai MP Ekkarat Changlao after he withdrew his claim that Anutin and Newin met senators at a Bangkok hotel in 2024. Commissioner Sitthichot Intharawiset disputed the ruling. He referenced 12 coordinated voting lists that were connected to gatherings in six provinces, as well as phone records and financial connections that the commission's majority refused to investigate further. Perhaps unrelatedly, four of the seven current commissioners were approved by the current Senate. Chairman Narong Klunwarin tried to be clear by saying that the ruling isn’t a finding of guilt. The EC this week also opened three new cases against the People's Party, iLaw and independent Senate groups over a separate meeting in 2024.

Read more: Thai Enquirer (vote tally), Prachatai English (money trail), Prachatai English (cleared figures), Prachatai English (protests), Thai Enquirer (evidence)

Bangkok Accuses Cambodia at Maritime Hearing

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow opened Bangkok's case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration's Singapore outpost by accusing Cambodia of "playing the role of a victim" in a dispute over 27,000 square kilometers of the Gulf of Thailand that’s believed to hold amounts of oil and gas. His Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn said Phnom Penh wants a "single, all-purpose maritime boundary" and suggested the joint development of the resources while the boundary talks drag on. Bangkok wasn’t keen to take a bite of that offer. The competing claims go all the way back to the early 1970s. A 2001 framework resulted in only a handful of meetings over the past 25 years before the Thai cabinet scrapped it in the wake of the 2025 land-border fighting. Cambodia ratified UNCLOS in February and soon triggered compulsory conciliation, even though that commission's recommendations aren’t binding.

Read more: AP News (conciliation), Arab News (hearing), Thai Enquirer (joint development)

Anutin Tells Foreigners to Earn or Leave

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has told provincial governors to stop drowning in paperwork for troublesome foreigners and start booking their flights home. He even offered to advance the airfare from the state budget. The first two targets are fighting deportation orders during their appeals. Two are an Israeli convicted of making threats after his family was blocked from entry to a zoo and the zoo's French owner, who authorities accuse of stirring religious division. In Phuket, Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom has given his people seven days to dig through land deeds, permits and shareholder records related to Chabad of Patong. Its Rosh Hashanah dinner last week for 2,000 Israeli travelers was canceled after a pro-Palestinian protest came together near the venue. Prime Minister Anutin also wears the hat of interior minister.

Read more: Bangkok Post (land cases), Nation Thailand (deportations), Israel National News (Chabad inquiry)

Authorities Flag 2,200 Nominee Landowners

Authorities have found about 2,200 companies suspected of holding land through foreign-majority nominee structures. Perhaps they weren’t looking very hard. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said forced sales will be demanded if investigators are able to confirm violations. The crackdown is part of Anutin's push against foreign land ownership, particularly in the provinces of Phuket and Surat Thani. Officials are also looking at more than 11,000 firms that have “suspicious” shareholder or bank account changes. The assets under scrutiny have risen from 65 billion baht to 85 billion baht. Police and three government departments are cross-checking records and are expect to finish their work by the end of this month.

Read more: Bangkok Post

Bangkok Oil Leak Traced to Bangchak Pipeline

Six days after Bangchak Group said its tests had found nothing wrong, a backhoe under the Rama III bridge in Khlong Toey found an oil patch two to three meters underground. The Energy Ministry has confirmed that a pipeline is leaking into Bangkok's drains. Of course, some are saying that the seepage may have been too small for the earlier checks to catch. The line in question connects the Bangchak refinery to fuel depots to both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports. Thousands of liters of contaminated wastewater have been pumped out so far. After repairs are finished, operators will have to test the full 32-kilometer pipeline before restarting the flow. BFPL and BPT are expected to be on the hook for all damages.

Read more: Bangkok Post

Every LNG $3 Adds 5% to Power Bills

Every $3 per MMBtu increase in LNG prices could increase electricity prices by 5%, incoming PTTEP CEO Kanita Sartwattayu told a Bangkok energy conference. Gas supplies more than three-fifths of Thailand’s power, and LNG makes up about half of that. Kanita expects LNG's share to reach 70% within a decade as domestic fields start to run out and pipeline gas from Myanmar tapers off. Thailand buys half its LNG on the spot market, where prices are volatile and, of course, rose sharply after Middle East supply disruptions. PTTEP says it will work to squeeze more from marginal domestic fields as its able.

Read more: Reuters

USTDA Funds Nuclear Feasibility Study

No site, budget or construction timeline has been published, but the US Trade and Development Agency is paying for an EGAT feasibility study for 600 MWe of small modular reactor capacity. It is another step toward the country's civil nuclear ambitions that have been bandied about for decades. The study will compare designs from seven vendors, identify potential sites and map the regulatory path before USTDA will open the the work to bids from US firms. The deal comes after Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed their own SMR agreement with EGAT, so at the moment it looks like the players lined up are in Washington and Seoul.

Read more: World Nuclear News

GMI Cloud Borrows $300M on Nvidia Chips

GMI Cloud is shopping a $300 million loan to banks and private credit funds to buy Nvidia chips for a center inside an STT GDC site. Tencent will be the buyer of the computing power. The loan is expected to be priced with a yield in the low teens and will be secured against the chips instead of the building or land. Lenders are apparently warming to this structure as data center financing moves from bricks and mortar to the hardware onsite. GMI Cloud recently closed a similar $436 million deal in Taiwan that drew bank commitments for more than twice the amount requested.

Read more: Investing.com

Anutin Wants Trump Meeting at UNGA

Bangkok is looking for a meeting between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and President Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun thinks its likely to happen. Her ministry wants officials to finish up their technical trade talks first though, so that final tariffs and other fine adjustments can be all that’s left for the two leaders to settle. Washington put a 12.5% tariff on Thai goods in July.

Read more: Reuters

BoT Holds at 1%, Keeps Options Open

The Bank of Thailand is holding its policy rate at 1%, and assistant governor Don Nakornthab says every option is still open for the Bank’s October review. The private sector thinks a longer pause is likely. Growth is expected at 2.3% this year and 1.8% next. Don said the baht's 5.7% drop against the dollar has been "quite orderly" and is helping exporters.

Read more: Reuters

Cargill Puts ฿2 Billion Into Chicken

Cargill will spend 2 billion baht ($60 million) on an automated cooked chicken line at its Saraburi plant and a 30,000 metric ton grain silo in Nakhon Ratchasima. The new line is due in 2028, and the silo should be finished in December. Cargill says that its cooked poultry output will be up to 160,000 metric tons, and result in 25 billion baht of export revenue and 300 new local jobs.

Read more: Just Food

Bangkok Caps Rail Fares at 45 Baht

Rail fares on Bangkok's network will be capped at 45 baht per trip (vs a normal hight of ~60) from January 1. Krungthai Bank is going to run the central clearing house, with refunds going to Pao Tang (a Thai software wallet) or the card used for payment within three working days. The government thinks the deal will cost it about 5 billion baht yearly to pay for the scheme. The cabinet should have time to consider the plan in November, although BMA officials warn that replacing Green Line card readers could take up to two years, possibly putting a crimp in things.

Read more: Nation Thailand (card readers), Bangkok Post (current discounts), Khaosod English (line transfers)

King Rama X Flies Himself to Hanoi

King Rama X flew a Boeing 737 into Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport in heavy rain, and Queen Suthida served in the first officer's chair. The flight was the opening event for the first state visit to Vietnam by a Thai monarch since the countries established diplomatic ties. The aviation authority had renewed both royals' ratings for several 737 variants five days earlier. Suthida, a former flight attendant, earned her 737 rating in Germany and holds a Thai airline transport pilot license. The king had logged 3,000 hours on the 737-400 by 2009 in addition to much experience flying F-5s and F-16s.

Read more: VnExpress

Sumatra Fires Push Haze Into the South

The Pollution Control Department has published its first cross-border haze warning of this year after satellites picked up 7,236 hotspots in Indonesia (mostly in southern Sumatra) against four in Thailand. PM2.5 in Yala and Narathiwat has risen to exceed local standards with readings in the south ranging from 13.7 to 42.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Rain is expected through September 21, but winds will likely continue carrying smoke north through the weekend.

Read more: Nation Thailand

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Bangkok Puts Up a Tollgate for Imported EVs

The EV Board has approved (in principle) a three-tier excise tax that will penalize fully imported vehicles and reward cars built with local content. The top rate will be higher than the current 10 percent import tax, and the lowest will be reserved for models assembled locally. Excise Department chief Pornchai Thiraveja said the middle tier will be reserved for vehicles brought in for testing or local finishing. Permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit says the rates should be in place by the end of this month, but will need to be approved by cabinet. Unlike the EV3.0 and EV3.5 schemes that first pulled Chinese brands into the market, this one has no budget subsidies associated with it. EVs and hybrids made up more than half of new car sales through the first seven months of this year, so the tide against combustion engines is turning. The Board of Investment had cleared $4.59 billion for 189 EV projects by August.

Read more: Nation Thailand (automaker investments), Briefs (regional competition)

PM Pauses Data Centers Despite 7-Day Fast Lane

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's new National Data Center Policy Committee is staring down power requests from developers totaling almost 20,000 megawatts, which is close to Thailand’s current entire electricity consumption. In an attempt to buy some time, the government has asked 49 data centers being built to take a voluntary pause because it doesn’t have any legal power to stop them. Decisions on permits for another 117 projects have been frozen. Four subcommittees are now racing to write rules for power, water, site safety and clean energy. Even against that uninspiring backdrop, however, the NBTC Office is offering an automatic "Type 1" route that promises approval within seven working days. Officials admit that their registry of 35 operating data centers, compiled from 16 agencies, lacks the detail that’s really needed to regulate them effectively.

Read more: Nation Thailand (license rules), TechRepublic (investment boom), Bangkok Tribune (policy gaps)

Government Puts Muscle Into Rooftop Solar

A $1.52 billion rooftop solar subsidy is going to start rolling out next month. The deal will offer households about $1,520 per installation and the opportunity to sell surplus power back into the grid. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas says three state banks will cover the upfront costs. Electricity authorities will buy the surplus power and use the proceeds to repay the loans. The Interior Ministry is has a target of a million homes for the scheme, but is weighing an increase of that target by half to 1.5 million homes. The government says a five-kilowatt system with modest household use could earn about $30 a month, and the panels should last 25 to 30 years. Tax breaks on some imported components will add another sweetener for installers and suppliers.

Read more: ESG News

Hanwha Ocean Preferred Navy Frigate Builder

Hanwha Ocean’s bid, with the support of Seoul’s defense ministry, DAPA and the ROK Navy, has come out on top as the preferred supplier of the Royal Thai Navy's next frigate. It’s a THB 16.73 billion contract for a single ship in addition to logistics support. The Hanwha Ocean offer beat those from Spain's Navantia, Singapore's ST Engineering, Turkey's ASFAT and TAIS, and Korean rival Hyundai Heavy Industries. Hanwha previously delivered HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2018, but the proposed ship will break new ground for the builder, as it will be the first build with European partners. France's Naval Group is expected to handle combat management and sensor integration for the OCEAN-40F design, while MBDA will supply Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missiles. The full terms still have to be negotiated before a final contract can be agreed to.

Read more: Naval News

Airport Rail Link Operator Names Its Price

Asia Era One is willing to keep running Bangkok's Airport Rail Link after its contract expires on September 30, but the price demanded is 60 million baht ($1.7 million) a month for four months. It also wants the right to walk away with 30 days' notice if the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) decides to sue because of the stalled three-airport high-speed rail project. That unbuilt line, which was supposed to connect Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao, is still the CP-backed operator's main prize. The SRT board is thinking about the proposal after Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn brokered talks to keep the trains running. The fleet has dwindled from nine trains to five or six since maintenance problems started in around 2014. Peak wait times that ought to only be eight to ten minutes can now reach up to 30 or even 45 minutes.

Read more: The Star

Thai, Cambodian Envoys Trade Blame in Geneva

Thai envoy Usana Berananda told the UN Human Rights Council that Bangkok claims no Cambodian territory and accused Phnom Penh of “firing first” on July 24. Cambodia's Ke Sovann responded that Thailand had declared its "Chakrabongse Bhuvanath" military operation a day earlier and accused Thai forces of "salami slicing" the border with razor wire, container barricades and new infrastructure. Sovann referred to the France-Siam treaties and the ICJ's Preah Vihear rulings, and said that that the boundary can’t be replaced by way of unilateral Thai maps or by force.

Read more: Asian News Network

Sondhi Rallies Crowd at Israeli Embassy

Hundreds gathered outside Israel's Bangkok embassy as veteran activist Sondhi Limthongkul proclaimed four demands. He wants tighter controls on tourist conduct, no protection for offenders facing Thai courts, scrutiny of land deals in Chachoengsao and Chabad centers, in addition to Israeli compliance with international humanitarian law in Gaza. Protesters also questioned nominee arrangements used to hold property and run businesses, especially on Koh Phangan and in Phuket. The embassy shuttered for the morning. Deputy Chief of Mission Rami Teplitski later posted a Thai-language video saying that the mission was taking the concerns seriously. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow previously warned Ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm that misconduct by Israeli citizens could damage bilateral ties. More than 277,000 Israelis were counted visiting Thailand in the first eight months of this year, which is a pace about 7 percent higher than during the same period last year.

Read more: AP News (tourist deportation), Khaosod English (protest campaign), Jerusalem Post (embassy response), Ynet News (stay limits)

Scam Compound Tour Includes an Operating Table

Nine months after taking over the Chong Chom scam base on the Cambodian border, the military has taken ASEAN observers and reporters through the site where they were shown an operating table with surgical equipment on the third floor, solitary cells stripped of their cameras, and documents listing "organ trafficking" as the punishment for workers who didn’t meet their scam quotas. The military says Vietnamese and Chinese nationals who were captured while fleeing the compound had “wounds” and suffered severed fingers.

Read more: Philippine News Agency

Court Faults Fisheries Department Over Tilapia

The Central Administrative Court says that the Department of Fisheries failed to inspect Charoen Pokphand Foods' research on Blackchin tilapia after given them a permit in 2010, even though it knew the alien species could be a threat to native fish. An outbreak spread through waterways between 2012 and 2016, causing much damage. The court told the department and 17 other agencies to control the fish, declare emergency outbreak zones and offer support to affected residents while at the same time rejecting the government's claim that its 2024-2027 action plan was sufficient. CP Foods has not commented, and the court has not set compensation.

Read more: Bangkok Tribune

Nestlé Puts CHF 157 Million on Thai Kibble

Nestle is putting more than CHF 157 million (~6.4B THB) into its Rayong-based Purina plant to make more Felix, Friskies, Pro Plan and Purina One product for both local sales and export. Pet food makes up about a fifth of group sales. The company wants to capitalize on the spending by owners of an estimated 350 million cats and dogs in Asia, Oceania and Africa who are trading home-cooked meals for packaged premium food.

Read more: Nestle

Taylor's Schools Buys Four St Andrews Campuses

Taylor's Schools has bought four St Andrews International School campuses from Cognita in its first play beyond Malaysia and Singapore. The deal will grow its network to 10 schools and about 10,000 students. The three Bangkok campuses and the school at Green Valley on the east coast will retain their existing names and staff. CEO Angelina Tee (formerly of Cognita) says boarding and a year-round outdoor education center could follow at Green Valley and that she expects the group to be in control of 15 schools within five years.

Read more: TES

Gulftainer Buys Into Bangkok's River Port

UAE port operator Gulftainer has agreed to invest in Suksawat Terminal on the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan. It is the group's first investment into Thailand. Gulftainer didn’t publish the price, but it plans to upgrade the barge terminal that feeds cargo to Laem Chabang. The group says the terminal will be the anchor for a broader network of ports, inland logistics, industrial parks and shipping lines.

Read more: Construction Business News

Ayutthaya Abbot Arrested in 92 Million Baht Temple Case

In a titillating story that has torn through local social media, police have arrested monk Luang Por Chot of Wat Phutthaisawan in connection with more than 92 million baht (about $2.6 million) in allegedly diverted temple funds. That’s not the main reason that the story has caught fire, however. Police say the money was passed to a female associate to help conceal it and the monk has appeared on video in flagrante performing what appear to be rather unorthodox rites. A 2022 Supreme Court ruling classifies abbots appointed to ecclesiastical positions as officials under the Sangha Act, so a money-laundering conviction can carry triple the standard penalty, to say nothing of the social cost of his other indiscretions.

Read more: Khaosod English

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New Rules Cut Visa-free Stays to 30 Days

Starting September 15, the 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries disappears and a shorter allowance will take its place. Sixty countries/ territories will go back to 30 days, Seychelles and Mauritius get 15, and 21 nations will lose visa-free entry altogether. Existing deals still cover China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam. Land-border crossers using the 30-day exemption face a new limit of two entries each calendar year, with Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore exempted. That change is a direct shot at the visa-run circuit that has kept some long-stay expats legal on paper for years.

Read more: TAT News (gazette rules), Jerusalem Post, VisasNews (countries list)

Data Center Permits Frozen On Diesel Stash Find

Officials found about 200,000 liters of unlicensed fuel at a data center building on Rama IX Road, more than thirteen times the 15,000-liter “no-permit-required” limit. The Department of Energy Business made a police complaint, and Bangkok has frozen three data center applications while it figures out how the fuel got there. Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek said some operators have been applying for construction permits as warehouses, then installing servers and running the buildings as data centers in a bid to get around rules. The PM has put Deputy PM Ekniti Nitithanprapas in charge of a new Data Center Board to write a rulebook for clean energy, water, urban planning and safety, data security, and community impact instead of leaving the job split between ministries.

Read more: Nation Thailand (new board), Thai Enquirer (investment context)

Tourism Revenue Tops a Trillion

Thailand has already banked more than a 1 trillion baht from 20.81 million foreign visitors. China is still at the top of the source-market list with 3.52 million visitors, followed by Malaysia at 2.63 million, India at 1.53 million, Russia at 1.18 million, and South Korea at 765,842. Late-August numbers were a little shaky. Weekly arrivals fell almost 12 percent to 491,456, with Chinese visitors down almost a quarter (although Malaysians were up almost 19 percent). Officials expect the next week to look similar as summer holidays wind down in Europe and East Asia.

Read more: Khaosod English

US Sailors Find Pattaya, Police Sweep Soi 6

The USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into Laem Chabang covered with rust and mottled paint after a marathon 286 days at sea, and its 5,000 sailors and Marines surged ashore with nine months of unspent salary. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet thinks each visitor's daily spend will be between 1,000 and 3,000 baht (~$30 - $90), and said the five-day stop should throw about $3 million into the local economy. Police prepared for the visit with an overnight beachfront sweep that resulted in 25 arrests for public prostitution, though the mayor insisted the operation was not related to the Americans' arrival. Soi 6, Soi 6/1 and Soi 7 have been declared off-limits to crew, but Walking Street is open with a giant illuminated sign welcoming the carrier.

Read more: Independent (admiral), The National (escort ships), The Guardian (crew conditions), BBC (shopping), Ynet (crew restrictions)

Jailed Activist Stops Water After Bail Denied

Activist Promsorn Veerathamjaree stopped drinking water on August 31, two months into a hunger strike to demand bail on charges of royal defamation. His mother had suggested the court employ an electronic monitoring bracelet, monthly check-ins, a curfew, a travel ban, or a court-appointed guardian so her son would be able to care for his father, who has Alzheimer's and other conditions. The Supreme Court denied the request. A prison psychologist has spoken with Promsorn, and prison volunteers check on him twice a day. He is facing six counts of royal defamation, including two that are currently before the Supreme Court and two in an Appeal Court.

Read more: Prachatai English

Runners Lap the Election Commission for 229 Senators

More than a hundred protesters ran 2.29 kilometers around a track inside the Election Commission's building, throwing balls into boxes labeled with senators accused of buying their way into office in 2024. Organized by legal watchdog iLaw, the sports-day protest also featured badminton nets held down by boxes featuring the faces of Bhumjaithai cabinet ministers connected to the scheme. The Election Commission's investigation committee found grounds to refer all 229 suspects to the Supreme Court, whereupon a sub-committee cleared them despite public phone logs, money transfers, and witness testimony. The Human Rights Lawyers Association said the commission has a duty to prosecute wherever reasonable evidence of fraud exists, but apparently there is little political will to do so.

Read more: Prachatai English

Korean Air Signs On to Fix Black Hawks

Korean Air and state-owned Thai Aviation Industries signed a teaming agreement in Busan to manage depot maintenance of Royal Thai Army UH-60 Black Hawks. The hopes is that the agreement can be later expanded to cover other aircraft in the military fleet. Korean Air brings five decades and more than 5,500 military aircraft worth of depot maintenance work, in addition to a UH-60 manufacturing history since 1991. Thai Aviation Industries brings the local network and infrastructure, and will get technical training and standardized procedures in return. Korean Air thinks Thailand could / should be a base for getting other Southeast Asian military MRO clients.

Read more: UPI

TAGTHAi Wallet Live at Five Bangkok Malls

TAGTHAi's Easy Pay is now in service at ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, Emporium, EmQuartier and MBK. The app allows foreign tourists top up in baht, scan Thai QR codes at the till (via KBank rails), and collect a 300-baht Bangkok Pass discount in addition to a free 150-baht BTS One-Day Pass on same-day spending. Might be worth checkin out if you’re visiting the city.

Read more: TAT News

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