Archive

PM says CP-led consortium cannot easily exit the three-airport rail deal Bangkok Post · Aug 28, 2026

PM Anutin says Asia Era One (CP-led, with Italian-Thai Development and China Railway Construction) will find it hard to terminate the dormant 220-billion-baht high-speed rail deal and the Airport Rail Link operating contract. He warns that early termination would blacklist the company from future state bids. Italian-Thai relies heavily on government work. The Airport Rail Link contract expires at end-September, and talks with the EEC Office and SRT are expected soon. For most SMEs this changes nothing today; watch it if you supply or subcontract to these contractors or to state rail projects.

Bangkok's Rajavithi skywalk opens first phase in October, linking BTS to hospitals Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration says the first phase of the Rajavithi Skywalk, around Victory Monument, is due to open in early October 2026. The 1,300-metre elevated walkway, 38.31% complete as of 27 August, links BTS Victory Monument to hospitals including Rajavithi and Phramongkutklao, with four public lifts and a 4-metre wide deck. For a shop or clinic near Victory Monument, expect more foot traffic from the BTS side once it opens. No action is needed beyond noting the date.

Government still undecided on car excise overhaul as EV tax gap widens Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

A Securities and Exchange Commission board member says the government must answer three questions before restructuring car excise tax: how to replace lost excise revenue as both car tax and fuel tax shrink, where consumers' savings from cheaper EVs will be spent in the Thai economy, and which vehicle segments (pickups, commercial and heavy trucks) Thailand can still compete in. EVs enter duty-free from China under ACFTA, while ICE, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars face duty up to 50%. No decision or deadline has been announced. For now, keep pricing and stock plans flexible if you sell or service cars, and watch for a formal excise proposal.

Heavy metals found in 21 crops along Mae Kok river, Chiang Mai; Mae Ai farmers and buyers should check sourcing now Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Agricultural office and Chiang Mai research centre tests (Dec 2025 to May 2026, six rounds) found cadmium, lead and arsenic above standards in at least 21 crops grown along the Mae Kok river in Mae Ai, including chili, corn, cucumber, garlic, pineapple, eggplant, mango and long bean. Cadmium exceeded limits in every round. The source is not yet confirmed; flooding-borne sediment and the river are suspected. The Consumer Council says results took 8 months to reach the public and no recall or area-control measures are yet set. If you buy produce or raw materials from Mae Ai or nearby riverside plots, ask suppliers for origin and test records, and hold any lots you cannot trace. Possible future rules: area controls on planting, and faster post-market recalls under the Food Act.

Carbon and waste rules are becoming business costs for Thai SMEs, especially exporters The Story Thailand · Aug 28, 2026

Trade rules now count carbon, packaging and product design across the supply chain, not just the exporter. The article's EU steel example: at about EUR 75 per tonne carbon cost, a shipment gains roughly THB 9,000 per tonne in cost, while a lower-carbon producer stays more competitive. Bangkok is piloting charges for households that do not sort waste, and a circular economy draft law is in preparation. Suppliers to exporters should expect questions about emissions and packaging data. Start by checking what your customers will ask for.

Major contractor NWR files for rehabilitation as construction credit tightens Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Listed contractor NWR filed for business rehabilitation on 29 May 2026; the court rules on its plan on 8 September. It blames rising materials, energy and labour costs, copper price jumps and cash-flow strain, and says banks are tightening lending to construction firms. For a Thai SME in construction or supplying it: check your exposure to NWR as a customer or debtor, tighten payment terms and credit checks on contractors, and expect slower payments and harder bank credit across the sector. NWR says it is still operating and bidding, and its plan includes selling concrete and processed steel.

Southern double-track rail plan of 106,797 million baht goes to cabinet, bidding expected 2026 Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

The Transport Ministry will propose at the cabinet meeting in Songkhla on 1 September 2026 three southern double-track rail lines (Chumphon to Padang Besar, 504 km, 106,797 million baht). State rail (SRT) would open bidding this year, with construction from mid-2027 and completion in 2031-2033. Two bridges (Songkhla Lake, 7 km; Koh Lanta, 2.5 km project) are also to be signed on 31 August. For southern SMEs, this is a multi-year pipeline for logistics, construction supply and services, not a near-term cash event. Watch for contractor tenders and subcontracting in Surat Thani, Hat Yai and Krabi.

Staff using public AI tools are a business risk: KBTG lists eight AI risks to check now Techsauce · Aug 28, 2026

KBTG's Chatchawat Assawarakwong, speaking at Techsauce Global Summit 2026, cited Gartner research: only 7% of organisations are rated AI-ethics leaders and 31% have strong enough AI governance. He warned that when staff use public AI tools, the company cannot see what data goes in or what comes out. Customer-facing uses such as complaint handling carry real liability if AI gives wrong answers. Starting points he named include the EU AI Act, ISO/IEC 42001, NIST's AI risk framework, and Thai guidance from ETDA, NCSA (สกมช.) and the Bank of Thailand for financial providers. For a small business, the practical step is a simple written AI-use policy for staff, starting from these existing documents.

Bank interim dividends land early September, mostly for shareholders, not SME borrowers Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Several Thai banks announced interim dividends for the first half of 2026. KKP pays the most at 3.25 baht per share, with ex-dividend dates from 7 to 9 September. KBANK, SCB and TISCO pay 2 baht each, and BAY, TTB, CIMBT and LHFG pay less. KTB, CREDIT and TCAP have not declared a half-year interim dividend. This only matters if you hold bank shares. For a business owner, it is background: it does not change loan rates, fees or credit terms.

Thai Credit targets 200bn baht in loans for 2026, with Micro SME lending as the growth focus Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Thai Credit Bank (CREDIT) expects 2026 loans to reach 200 billion baht, up from about 194 billion baht at mid-year, and is pushing into Micro SME lending. Its Micro Max product offers about 500,000 to 1 million baht, with lower rates for low-risk borrowers or those with collateral. The bank says it will keep NPLs near 4% and will not lend beyond borrowers' capacity. It also plans to use QR payment transaction data in credit assessments, which may help small merchants with thin credit records. For a small business owner, this is a possible new borrowing option worth comparing against current loan terms, especially if you take QR payments.

Viriyah sees non-motor insurance up 18% and offers a THB 1,500 SME fire cover Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Viriyah Insurance says non-motor premiums are up about 18% in 2026 and may reach at least THB 6 billion. Home insurance is up about 29% and engineering over 20% after floods, quakes and fires. It has a SME product at THB 1,500 a year covering up to THB 500,000, aimed at small shops and restaurants. Reinsurance costs are rising with disaster losses, so expect insurers to price cautiously. If your shop or premises lacks fire cover, compare this against your current policy. Its health plans now offer co-payment and deductible options that cut premiums by up to about 23% or 64%.

Finance minister says September for first 200bn-baht energy loan projects, rooftop solar first, car tax overhaul also due by September Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Deputy PM Ekniti Nitithadaphraphat said the first phase of the 200bn-baht emergency loan decree (energy transition) will be rooftop and community solar, targeted for a go-ahead in September. Other tracks are public transport EV/energy switch, smart grid, and skills upgrades, but these are still at proposal stage. He also said a whole-system car tax restructuring is awaiting the Transport Ministry's submission, with a September target for clarity. No detailed eligibility or application rules were given. For a Thai SME: if you sell or install solar, watch for September announcements; if you run fleets or sell cars, plan for possible tax changes but do not act yet.

Airport Rail Link operator handover may slip 2-3 months past 30 September Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

The transport minister says CP's Asia Era One, which runs the Airport Rail Link, is being asked to extend its operating contract 2-3 months beyond 30 September before State Railway of Thailand's subsidiary takes over. The high-speed rail linking three airports remains unresolved and depends on the EEC board, with no timeline given. For most SMEs this changes nothing directly. If you rely on Airport Rail Link travel or run a business near the line, expect service and timing to stay as-is for now.

Baht's sharp rise to 32.70 per dollar squeezes exporters and tourism earnings The Standard Wealth · Aug 28, 2026

The baht moved from about 33 to 32.70 per dollar in a short period, driven by US debt worries and gold's rise rather than Thai domestic factors. SCB FM says gold and the baht are now moving closely together. US data came in weak and markets have cut expected Fed hikes to one, while SCB FM expects no hike. For a Thai SME, a stronger baht cuts baht earnings on dollar sales and imports cost less. Review your pricing and currency exposure, and avoid locking in dollar revenue assumptions at the old rate.

Forecasts point to another monthly contraction in China's factory activity. Background only; watch for knock-on effects on Chinese import prices and demand for Thai raw materials.

US says Hormuz strait is clear of mines, but allies doubt it and shipping is still thin Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

CENTCOM's commander says the Strait of Hormuz is clear of Iranian mines and open to international shipping. Allies privately warn mines may remain, and an unnamed source estimates 80 to 150 were laid. Shipping through the strait fell sharply after the US and Israel began the war with Iran in late February. For Thai businesses, oil, LNG and fertiliser costs may stay volatile until shipping traffic visibly recovers, so keep fuel and input-cost budgets flexible rather than assuming relief.

Rooftop solar permits cut to 7 days, with state-backed 2–4% loans repaid from power bills Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

The Ministry of Energy says rooftop solar permits now finish within 7 days, and grid sell-back applications within 30 days (previously up to a year). The 500 MW extra purchase quota is open. Under the "Solar 1 million roofs" plan, state banks (Krungsri... no: Government Savings Bank and GHB) offer soft loans at 2–4% a year, repaid from the electricity bill savings, with no upfront payment for households. The article's example: a 5 kW system producing about 600 units a month, saving roughly 2,150–2,200 baht a month, with payback in 5–7 years. For a small business with a roof, this is worth checking now. Confirm the eligibility rules with the ministry or the bank, since the article does not state the business-specific terms.

Finance ministry shelves gold tax for now, but gold shops face tighter AML checks The Standard Wealth · Aug 28, 2026

The Finance Ministry told the Gold Traders Association it has no plan to impose a gold tax right now. The focus instead is a Centralized AML Intelligence Platform to link transaction data across about 7,000 small gold shops and flag customers, since splitting purchases below the 2 million baht ID-registration threshold is the loophole being targeted. The association expects anti-grey-capital measures this year, possibly several, and opposes any gold tax. For gold shop owners, expect tighter customer ID and transaction checks; keep records of splits and buyer details. No tax change takes effect yet.

New Prime Minister's Office rule lets officials deport troublesome foreign tourists and illegal foreign workers from 28 August Bangkok Post · Aug 28, 2026

A Prime Minister's Office regulation on deportation took effect on Friday 28 August. Authorities can quickly deport foreigners who act aggressively, disrespect Thai culture, or break the law, and those working or running businesses illegally are targeted. Offenders get visas revoked and a permanent re-entry ban. For a Thai SME, the practical point is to check that any foreign staff, partners or contractors have valid work permits and that their visas match their actual role, since illegal work now carries strict enforcement. Tourism-facing businesses should also expect tighter tourist police coordination. The article gives no fees, penalties for employers, or detailed criteria.

Bangkok Bank pays THB 2 interim dividend; ex-date 9 Sep 2026, payment 25 Sep Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Bangkok Bank (BBL) approved a THB 2.00 per share interim cash dividend from retained earnings on 27 Aug 2026. Shares trade ex-dividend on 9 Sep 2026, the record date is 10 Sep, and payment is 25 Sep. Only relevant if your business holds BBL shares: buy before the ex-date to receive the dividend, and expect the share price to adjust down by about the dividend amount on 9 Sep. No action needed for a typical SME otherwise.