Debt restructuring to be extended: Period for some business sectors could be increased to 10-15 years. Debt restructuring periods offered to borrowers affected by the pandemic could be extended to more than 10 years, says Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA) chairman Payong Srivanich. Bangkok Post
Four tourist towns: Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chonburi, Petchaburi will be open as planned on October 1; BKK shifts to November as majority of residents have yet recovered 2nd vaccine dose till end of October, Tourism Minister.
New law to replace decree: Covid-19 emergency could end this month. The government may decide not to extend the enforcement of the emergency decree imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 at the end of the month if new cases continue to decline at the current rate, according to Gen Natthapol Nakpanich, secretary-general of the National Security Council. Bangkok Post
CPI dips for first time in 5 months: State measures to control costs cited. State measures to lower the cost of living, a drop in prices for certain agricultural products and decelerating energy prices have prompted headline inflation, as gauged by the consumer price index (CPI), to contract in August for the first time in five months. According to the Commerce Ministry’s report yesterday, headline inflation dropped 0.02% year-on-year in August after rises of 0.45% in July, 1.25% in June, 2.44% in May and 3.41% in April, which was the highest jump in eight years. Bangkok Post
Hotel operators consider closing amid weak demand: Amid tepid tourist demand, 52% of hotel operators are considering closing temporarily, while 9% want to shut down permanently if the Covid-19 pandemic lasts longer than expected. Bangkok Post
Cabinet okays B16.96bn relief for workers, businesses: The cabinet yesterday greenlighted an additional 16.96 billion baht in a relief package for workers and businesses in maximum risk or dark-red provinces affected by the government’s latest tougher restrictions to contain the fresh Covid-19 outbreak. Bangkok Post
Insurer vows to settle claims: Southeast Insurance has pledged to clear up 8,000 accumulated claims for Covid-19 insurance policies within two weeks. Mr Thakorn said Southeast Insurance had received around 23,000 claims for Covid-19 insurance and related outbreak policies. Southeast Insurance has pledged to clear up 8,000 accumulated claims for the Covid-19 insurance policies within two weeks as the company has already finished installing the digital process and increased the number of staff handling claims to speed up clearing the claim documents. Bangkok Post
Industrial sentiment falls again: The prolonged pandemic is cited as the main cause for the TISI’s decline. The Thailand Industry Sentiment Index (TISI) in August declined to 76.8 points, down from 78.9 in July, hitting its lowest level in 16 months, as businesses bore the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown measures to contain the virus, said the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Concerns over political conflicts, including anti-government protests, were ranked third, following the economic downturn and the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, in the latest FTI survey of 1,395 enterprises in 45 industries, which was conducted to calculate the TISI. Bangkok Post
Food exports set to rise 7.1%: Resumption of global demand emerges. The Industry Ministry expects food exports in 2021 will increase by 7.1% to 1.05 trillion baht in value despite the impact of Covid-19, thanks to growing demand from the global market. Bangkok Post
Heads roll after censure debate: Cabinet duo axed over PM ouster plot. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has sacked Deputy Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow and Deputy Labour Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, two key figures in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), in what is believed to be fallout from last week’s censure debate. Bangkok Post
