1. Shopping tax rebate stimulus, Easy E-Receipt, will be in effect this week from Jan 16 to Feb 28 positive: CRC, MBK, COM7, IT, CPW, SPVI, CPALL, MINT, PTG, HMPRO, , DOHOME, ILM, GLOBAL, OR.
2. TH Dec tourist arrivals +15.1% mom, +11.2% yoy to 3.63m. Jan to Dec arrivals +26.3% yoy to 35.5m as reported by the Ministry of Tourism & Sports.
3. Oppo & Realme (TH) have apologized for pre-installing Fineasy app, a 3rd party programme offering loans on smartphone which unable to uninstalled and are capable of sending loan invitations & accessing user’s personal data, contact lists & phone numbers. Both brands agreed to uninstall the app. Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) urged both smartphone brands to provide an explanation on pre-installed unauthorized loan applications, installing software without user consent is a violation of user right, potential misuse of personal info such as financial exploitation or fraud by call center scams.
4. Commerce Ministry eager to beef up rice exports: Mr Pichai says the meeting on Jan 17 is meant to finalise measures to help small businesses become rice exporters by the first quarter. The Commerce Ministry wants to expedite rice trade liberalisation with a meeting scheduled for Jan 17. The meeting is meant to finalise measures to help small businesses become rice exporters, aiming to achieve tangible results in the first quarter this year. Bangkok Post
5. Govt bets on casinos: Entertainment zones to ‘promote tourism’. The cabinet yesterday approved in principle a bill paving the way for setting up entertainment complexes and allowing casinos to operate legally within them. Bangkok Post
6. TCC sees growth at 2.4-2.9%: The Thai Chamber of Commerce expects exports to rise by 1.5-2.5% this year. The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) anticipates the economy will grow by 2.4-2.9% and exports will rise by 1.5-2.5% this year while inflation will remain low in a range of 0.8-1.2%. The private sector is concerned about the second quarter if the government runs out of measures to stimulate the economy. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the TCC, said the economy will face domestic and international challenges this year. Bangkok Post
7. New plan prepares for nuclear power: Authorities are working on a plan to prepare Thailand for nuclear power technology, though the enforcement of the new power development plan (PDP), which approves the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), is facing delays. Bangkok Post
8. Investments to surge in 2025: Investments in Thailand are expected to gain momentum this year, following a surge in applications for investment incentives by 35% in value terms to 1.14 trillion baht last year, the highest level recorded since 2014, led by large foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in data centres and cloud services, says the Board of Investment (BoI). Bangkok Post
9. Cabinet approved in principle a bill seeking to legalize casinos with the govt pitching the initiative as a major step to boost tourism and tackle rampant illegal gambling. Tourism and retail supply chain operators to benefit.
10. Commerce: government will transfer Bt10k handout to about 4m senior citizens on Jan 27 as part of the 2nd phase of government flagship cash stimulus prog to revive economy

Bonus 9

1. Revenue Dept’s cut corporate income tax rate for business in SEZs to 10% for 10 years to promote investment in the zone.
2. Thaksin eager to revitalise SET: Major goal is to restore confidence. Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has outlined measures to revitalise the Thai stock market, suggesting relevant agencies urgently restore investor confidence and emphasising that any crimes must be punished immediately. Bangkok Post
3. NBTC mobile spectrum auction set for Q2: Draft endorsed by commission’s board. The board of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday unanimously approved a draft of the planned auction of six mobile spectrum bands. The auction is expected to be held in the second quarter of this year. Under the planned auction, there are three categories of bands, including the low bands of 850-megahertz, 1500MHz and 1800MHz. Bangkok Post
4. Condo association pushes for added state assistance: This year should be a challenging one for the residential property market, carrying over from a sluggish 2024 as insufficient domestic demand and a lack of structural support for foreign demand persist, says the Thai Condominium Association. Bangkok Post
5. SEC plans rules to buoy confidence: Stock pledging to be reviewed. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is preparing to issue stock pledging regulations and review the uptick rule to control short selling within the first quarter of this year. Given recent cases of company executives using shares as collateral in margin accounts to trade securities and as collateral for loans, Anek Yooyuen, deputy secretary-general of the SEC, said the regulator is considering ways to prevent market damages caused by such acts. Bangkok Post
6. Power tariff faces trim of 17 satang: Offer requires shrinking state policy. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) expects to reduce the power tariff by 0.17 baht per kilowatt-hour (unit), leading to cheaper electricity bills, if the government agrees to reduce its spending on a policy to promote investment in renewable energy. Bangkok Post
7. Next phase of digital wallet scheme set to commence: The Finance Ministry is poised to transfer 10,000 baht per person to eligible seniors under the digital wallet project, estimated to number 3.5-4 million people, in the next phase starting Jan 27. Bangkok Post
8. The head of Bangkok Bank expects continued foreign direct investment into emerging industries in Thailand.: Positive trend for growth sectors. Mr Chartsiri says the investment outlook for Southeast Asia looks promising as well. Bangkok Bank (BBL) expects sustained growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand over the next few years, presenting significant opportunities for the Thai economy despite global uncertainties. Speaking at the 2025 Asean Business Forum hosted by the bank yesterday, BBL president Chartsiri Sophonpanich said Thailand’s total investment applications through the Board of Investment surged by 35% in 2024 to reach a 10-year high of 1.14 trillion baht, driven by foreign investments in various sectors, including companies relocating operations to diversify their supply chains. Bangkok Post
9. Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) submitted petition to PM & Cabinet to review plan to cuts subsidy for SPP and VSPP to cut Ft from Bt4.14 to Bt3.98/unit. These could breach terms of agreement, erode confidence and create adverse impact for financial institution that provided loans to power producers.