Bt450bn budget deficit repeats. The state budget for fiscal 2020 is set at Bt3.2trn, up Bt200bn from fiscal 2019 ending Sep 20, 2019, with a budget deficit of Bt450bn equal to that of the previous fiscal year. (Bangkok Post, 05/01/19)
Ministry set for first SEOM meeting here. The Ministry of Commerce will host the first Asean Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM) in Bangkok form January 12-18 to push for economic issues and to conclude negotiations on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year. (Bangkok Post, 08/01/19)
EU withdraws ban threat on Thai fisheries after reforms. The European Union has withdrawn its threat to ban Thai fisheries exports into the bloc after Bangkok pushed through reforms to contain illegal fishing. (Bangkok Post, 8/1/19)
Visa on arrival fee waiver extended. The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to extend the waiver on the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee for nationals of specific countries until the end of April to boost tourism, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Veerasak Kowsurat. (Bangkok Post, 9/1/19)
BoI surpasses 2018 target. Investment applications outstripped the goal of 720 billion baht in 2018, bolstered by higher investments in targeted government industries. The Board of Investment (BoI) revealed on Wednesday applications filed for the BoI’s promotional privileges amounted to 902 billion baht in value for 2018, 43% higher than the previous year. (Bangkok Post, 10/01/19)
Medical supplies, services, drugs now under price control. The government on Wednesday added medicine, medical supplies and medical services to its price control lists to ensure fairness for both patients and operators of private hospitals, the Commerce Minister said. (Bangkok Post, 09/1/19)
US hiring rises dramatically. US employers dramatically stepped up their hiring in December, adding 312,000 jobs in an encouraging display of strength for an economy in the midst of a trade war, slowing global growth and a partial shutdown of the federal government. (Bangkok Post, 04/01/19)
World Bank sees global growth slowing in 2019. The growth of the global economy is expected to slow to 2.9% in 2019 compared with 3% in 2018, the World Bank said on Tuesday, citing elevated trade tensions and international trade moderation. (Reuters, 08/01/19)
US, China wrap up talks on tariff battle. Three days of US-Chinese talks aimed at ending a costly tariff battle wrapped up Wednesday in an optimistic atmosphere after President Donald Trump said they were “going very well!” (Bangkok Post, 09/01/19)
Many Fed policymakers urged patience on future rate hikes: minutes. A range of Federal Reserve policymakers said last month they could be patient about future interest rate increases and a few did not support the central bank’s rate increase that month, minutes from their Dec. 18-19 policy meeting showed. (Reuters, 10/01/19)
